A27053:568
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
London: printed by Robert White for Nevil Simmons, 1675
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
CHAP. XXXIV. Carnal Liberty to be denied: What.
17. Another selfish interest to be denied, is Carnal Liberty. A thing that selfishness hath strangely brought of late into so much credit, that abundance among us think they are doing some special service to God, their Country, the Church and their own souls, when they are but deeply engaged for the Devil, by a self-seeking spirit, in a Carnal Course. For the discovery of this dangerous common disease, I must first tell you, that there is a threefold Liberty which must carefully be differenced. 1. There is an Holy, Blessed Liberty which no man must deny. 2. There is a wicked Liberty, which no man should desire. 3. And between these two there is a Common, Natural, and Civil Liberty, which is good in its place, as other worldly matters are, but must be denied, when it ⟨p. 219⟩stands in competition with higher and better things; and, as all other worldly matters, is Holy when it is Holily esteemed and used; that is, for God; but sinful when it is sinfully esteemed and used, and that is for Carnal self.
17. ANother selfish interest to be denied, is Carnal Liberty. A thing that selfishness hath strangely brought of late into so much credit, that abundance among us think they are doing some special service to God, their Country, the Church and their own souls, when they are but deeply engaged for the Devil, by a self-seeking spirit, in a Carnal Course. For the discovery of this dangerous common disease, I must first tell you, that there is a threefold Liberty which must carefully be differenced. 1. There is an Holy, Blessed Liberty which no man must deny. 2. There is a wicked Liberty, which no man should desire. 3. And between these two there is a Common, Natural, and Civil Liberty, which is good in its place, as other worldly matters are, but must be denied, when it ⟨p. 219⟩stands in competition with higher and better things; and, as all other worldly matters, is Holy when it is Holily esteemed and used; that is, for God; but sinful when it is sinfully esteemed and used, and that is for Carnal self.