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

And this usage hath still been the attendant of true Godliness. When the Papists burn Gods servants at the stake, it is for supposed Heresy and impiety: they put a painted cap and coat upon them, made of paper, on which the Images of Devils are pictur d to make the people believe that they are ungodly persons, the ⟨p. 312⟩servants of the Devil, and possessed by him already, and unworthy to live any longer among men. When they butchered the poor Waldenses and Albigenses by thousands, it was under the name of ungodly heretics. The ignorant ungodly rabble among us now, that hate and revile those that seek after God more diligently than themselves, have yet more devilish wit than to oppose them directly under the name of honest godly men; but they first make the world believe that they are Hypocrites, and Proud, and Self-conceited, and Covetous, and secretly are as bad as others, and these are the things, if you will believe them, that they hate and speak against them for. But then how comes it to pass that it is their Praying and Preciseness that is so much in the scorners mouths? Doth that signify Hypocrisy or Pride? Why do they not commend the good while they speak against the evil? and join with them in the holy Worship and ways of God, while they oppose their supposed viciousness? Doth the name (Puritan] signify a covetous man, or a vicious person? or rather one that will not be content to venture his soul in the common, impure, ungodly courses of the world! And how comes it to pass that a man may quietly enough follow such vices, if he will but forbear the profession of Godliness? But (to leave these wretches in the dirt where we find them) by this you may see the common measure that is to be expected from the world: If you will be truly godly, you must be taken for ungodly, or for hypocrites, that seem to be godly when you are not.

And this usage hath still been the attendant of true Godliness. When the Papists burn Gods servants at the stake, it is for supposed Heresie and impiety: they put a painted cap and coat upon them, made of paper, on which the Images of Devils are pictur d to make the people believe that they are ungodly persons, the ⟨p. 312⟩servants of the Devil, and possessed by him already, and unworthy to live any longer among men. When they butchered the poor Waldenses and Albigenses by thousands, it was under the name of ungodly hereticks. The ignorant ungodly rabble among us now, that hate and revile those that seek after God more diligently than themselves, have yet more devilish wit than to oppose them directly under the name of honest godly men; but they first make the world believe that they are Hypocrites, and Proud, and Self-conceited, and Covetous, and secretly are as bad as others, and these are the things, if you will believe them, that they hate and speak against them for. But then how comes it to pass that it is their Praying and Preciseness that is so much in the scorners mouths? Doth that signifie Hypocrisie or Pride? Why do they not commend the good while they speak against the evil? and joyn with them in the holy Worship and ways of God, while they oppose their supposed viciousness? Doth the name (Puritan] signifie a covetous man, or a vicious person? or rather one that will not be content to venture his soul in the common, impure, ungodly courses of the world! And how comes it to pass that a man may quietly enough follow such vices, if he will but forbear the profession of Godliness? But (to leave these wretches in the dirt where we find them) by this you may see the common measure that is to be expected from the world: If you will be truly godly, you must be taken for ungodly, or for hypocrites, that seem to be godly when you are not.