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

so when they are sure that God is their end, they must be exceeding careful of their own Reputation, and avoid all occasions & appearances of evil, and purchase it by all just means: For though honour be worth little, yet the Cause of God and the souls of men are worth much; and we must not be prodigal of our Masters Talents, and such as are very useful to his service: Our Reputation is Gods and the Churches due, and to be cherished for their use. Especially those Ministers must be careful of their Reputation, that by Reformation or Public useful writings are capable of profiting Posterity: and they may desire the surviving of their honours, which for it self might not be desired: because their works and writings, and Doctrine are like to be much blasted by their own defamations, and do little good to any that come after: Nay the precious truths and cause of God may be most dangerously wronged and disadvantaged by it; and get such a blot and dishonour by their dishonour, that any that shall seek the promoting of it hereafter may be greatly hindered and disadvantaged thereby: For it will seem enough to cast off such a Doctrine for ever, that by the dishonour of the maintainers it was once dishonourable and rejected as an error. And doubtless some things have been thus made Heresies, and so will be long rejected as Heresies in many parts of the Christian world, because they were once called by that name; and that was because the Person that did own them had some such dishonour or disadvantage as left his Doctrine open to this reproach. And therefore you may here see what a Potent instrument Reputation is in the Devils hand, to do his work; and what abundance of advantage he gets by defaming ⟨p. 321⟩Gods servants. Principally by this means did he long keep the world from the entertainment of the Gospel, the servants of Christ being contemptible in their eyes, and the preaching of the cross but foolishness to them. By this means did the Pharisees hinder the Jews from believing in Christ: And by this means is Heathenism, Infidelity, and Mohammedanism continued in possession of most of the world to this day. By this means it is that Popery keeps the common people in thraldom: as the voluminous lies of Cochlaeus, Bolsecus, and many others concerning Luther, Calvin, Zuinglius, and other of our Reformers and Writers, do fully testify.

so when they are sure that God is their end, they must be exceeding careful of their own Reputation, and avoid all occasions & appearances of evil, and purchase it by all just means: For though honour be worth little, yet the Cause of God and the souls of men are worth much; and we must not be prodigal of our Masters Talents, and such as are very useful to his service: Our Reputation is Gods and the Churches due, and to be cherished for their use. Especially those Ministers must be careful of their Reputation, that by Reformation or Publick useful writings are capable of profiting Posterity: and they may desire the surviving of their honours, which for it self might not be desired: because their works and writings, and Doctrine are like to be much blasted by their own defamations, and do little good to any that come after: Nay the precious truths and cause of God may be most dangerously wronged and disadvantaged by it; and get such a blot and dishonour by their dishonour, that any that shall seek the promoting of it hereafter may be greatly hindered and disadvantaged thereby: For it will seem enough to cast off such a Doctrine for ever, that by the dishonour of the maintainers it was once dishonourable and rejected as an error. And doubtless some things have been thus made Heresies, and so will be long rejected as Heresies in many parts of the Christian world, because they were once called by that name; and that was because the Person that did own them had some such dishonour or disadvantage as left his Doctrine open to this reproach. And therefore you may here see what a Potent instrument Reputation is in the Devils hand, to do his work; and what abundance of advantage he gets by defaming