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

Answ. No: not for self; but for God it is. You have warnings enough, and plain enough from Christ, if warnings would serve turn: He hath bid you [sit not down in the highest room:] he hath sharply rebuked them that strive for precedency, and who shall be ⟨p. 287⟩the greatest: He hath told you, he that will be the greatest, must be the servant of all: and hath told you of stooping to the feet of the meanest, and condescending to men of low degree; and hath set little children before you to be your Teachers, and assured you that there is no entrance into his Kingdom in any other posture. He hath told you that God resisteth and abhorreth the Proud, and that he that humbleth himself shall be exalted, and he that exalteth himself shall be brought low.

Object. But how shall I know whether I seek preferment for God or my self? I hope it's God that I seek it for.

Answ. 1. How shall a man know his own mind? you have dark hearts indeed if you cannot know your own Intentions, if you are but observant, and diligent, and willing to know them. 2. He that seeketh not Dignities for himself, but for God, will never seek to put by another that is as able and likely to do God service in the place as he: Nor will he seek it at all, if he see that God may be served as well without his seeking it: but will stay till God call him to it, and then he may expect his help and blessing. Few do intend God in it, that are Exalters of themselves. Indeed if you see that an enemy of the Gospel, or some unworthy, ungodly man is like to come into the place if you seek it not, by which the Church or the Commonwealth, is like to be much injured, then you may seek it by lawful means; so that you can truly say, I would not do it for my self; but it is to serve God for his peoples good. 3. Nay he that seeketh not the Dignity for himself, will seek first and more to get in another, if he know another that is fitter than himself, and likely to do God more service: and this he will do heartily, and not dissemblingly. If you had not rather a worthier