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

CHAP. XLIV. Comeliness and Beauty to be denied.

4. Another part of the Honour that self must be denied in, is, The Reputation of your personal comeliness or beauty: For such fools and children sin hath made folks, that many much set by the Reputation of these. And hence is most commonly the abuse of Apparel. Every proud person is desirous of that which will make them seem the handsomest or beautifullest persons unto others; and make it their care to set forth themselves to the eyes of beholders. What they indeed are, we can see as well in the meanest attire: but what they would be thought to be, we may best see in this. But of this I spoke before; yea some think that they are not Proud of their comeliness, yet cannot endure to be esteemed ill-favoured or uncomely, and so show that Pride which they would deny. I confess these are commonly but the temptations of women, and procacious youth. But one would think it should be easy ⟨p. 295⟩for a few sober thoughts to cut their combs, and let them see how little cause they have to be proud of beauty or comeliness of the flesh. Alas what is that body that you are proud of! Filth and corruption covered with a cleaner skin than some of your neighbours. Ah, but the skin is thin, and if that be all you have to glory in, it is as frail, as contemptible. There's many a pretty flower in the common field that's trodden down by the feet of beasts, that have a gloss and hue incomparably beyond your beauty. I asked you before, what beauty you will have to glory of, when you have dwelt but a few months in the grave; or if the small Pox, or Leprosy, should clothe you with another coloured skin: or if a Cancer should but seize upon your face, and turn it into such an ugly shape, as makes men tremble to behold it: or when wrinkled age hath made you as another person: or when death hath deprived you of that soul, which was your beauty, and laid you out as a prey and sacrifice to corruption. Ah that ever such a skin full of dirt, such a bag of filth, should yet be proud, that's carried about by a living soul, and by it kept a little while from falling down as a senseless clod, and turning into a stinking corpse! They are short-sighted, and short-witted as well as graceless, that cannot look so far before them or within them, as to see that which may take them down from being proud of any comeliness of the flesh.