A treatise of self-denial. By Richard Baxter, pastor of the church at KidderminsterA treatise of self-denial. By Richard Baxter, pastor of the church at Kederminster

1. This desire to know, which is in the unsanctified, is, partly from mere nature, and partly from a distempered fantasy, which is like a corrupt enraged appetite, that chooseth that which is unwholesome, and yet is overgreedy after it. But the desire after knowledge in the sanctified, is kindled by the love of God, and the love ⟨p. 209⟩of those holy and heavenly things which they are inquiring after. It is not the Love of God that sets ungodly men upon their studies, but a common and carnal desire to know; and this appears in the end, which is next.

1. This desire to know, which is in the unsanctified, is, partly from meer nature, and partly from a distempered fantasie, which is like a crorupt enraged appetite, that chooseth that which is unwholsom, and yet is overgreedy after it. But the desire after knowledge in the sanctified, is kindled by the love of God, and the love ⟨p. 209⟩of those holy and heavenly things which they are inquiring after. It is not the Love of God that sets ungodly men upon their studies, but a common and carnal desire to know; and this appears in the end, which is next.

2. This carnal knowledge is but to feed and furnish and please a carnal fancy; because it is some adding to our understandings, and because it is naturally pleasant to know, and because it brings in some novelty and variety, and because it makes us seem wiser than other men, and furnisheth us with matter of discourse and ostentation, and rids the mind of some troublesome doubts; therefore even the worst have a mind to know. But this is the knowledge that must be denied: that which must be valued and sought after, is, To know God, that we may love, and reverence, and trust, and admire, and honour him, and enjoy him: To know Christ, that we may have more Communion with him: To know the word and works of God, that in them we may know his nature and his will: and knowing his will, may serve him and please him: These must be the ends of Christian knowledge. There is nothing in the world that God hath revealed, but in its place we may be willing to know, so that we stick not in the creature, or sense of the words, or common verities, but use every thing as a book or looking-glass: we love not a book so much for the letters as for the matter which they contain: & we love not a Glass for it self so much as for its use to show us the face which we would see in it: so if we go to the creatures but as a book in which we may read the mind of God, and see his nature, and as a glass in which his glory doth shine forth, our study and knowledge will be sanctified and divine. And thus as Paul would know nothing but Christ Crucified, so every Christian should be able to