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

but the other is searching after the nature and will of his Creator, and learning how to do his work in that manner as may please and honour him most. So that when they are reading the same books, and studying the same subjects, they are upon quite different works, as having contrary ends in all their studies: the one is content with bare speculation and aery knowledge which puffeth up; and the other studieth and knoweth practically to feed the holy fire of love in his heart, and to guide, and quicken; and strengthen him for obedience.

3. Moreover there is a difference commonly in the subject which they most desire to know: for though there is no truth but a wicked man may know, which a true Christian knoweth, and also but few truths but what he may for selfish ends be desirous to know; yet ordinarily a carnal heart is much more forward to study common Sciences than Divinity; and in Divinity to study least the practical part, and to be most in points that exercise the brain, and lie further from the heart: but the sanctified man delighteth most in knowing the mystery of Redemption, the riches of grace, ⟨p. 211⟩the glory which he hopeth for, the nature and will of God, the way of duty, the temptations that are before him, and his danger by them, and the way to escape, with such other useful truths which he must live upon. One feeds but upon the air and chaff of words and notions, or common truths; and the other is taken up with the most spiritual, heavenly and necessary matters: yea it is not so much the truth as the matter or thing revealed by it which the Christian looks after: it is not only to understand the meaning of the Scripture; but to find, and love, and enjoy that God, that Christ, that Spirit, that Life which is revealed in those words of Scripture; but the hypocrite sticks most in a Grammatical superficial kind of knowledge.

3. Moreover there is a difference commonly in the subject which they most desire to know: for though there is no truth but a wicked man may know, which a true Christian knoweth, and also but few truths but what he may for selfish ends be desirous to know; yet ordinarily a carnal heart is much more forward to study common Sciences than Divinity; and in Divinity to study least the practical part, and to be most in points that exercise the brain, and lie further from the heart: but the sanctified man delighteth most in knowing the mysterie of Redemption, the riches of grace,