A27053:745
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
Treatise › Chapter 50: A Renowned and Perpetuated Name to be denied.
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.
2. And do you not plainly see in your own desires the vanity of all these Earthly things, when you are put at last to take up with such a shadow, such a Nothing, as is a surviving name? Is this all that the world can do for you? And do you not see here the wondrous deceitfulness of the world, and the foolishness of unsanctified men, that they will d••s stick to the world ⟨p. 326⟩for very nothing! when they know that they shall have no more from it, they are contriving for a name when they are dead. Wonderful blindness! that experience and the approach and thoughts of death, should no more open your eyes: surely if this be all that the world will do for you at the last, you should even renounce it and use it accordingly at the first.
2. And do you not plainly see in your own desires the vanity of all these Earthly things, when you are put at last to take up with such a shaddow, such a Nothing, as is a surviving name? Is this all that the world can do for you? And do you not see here the wonderous deceitfulness of the world, and the foolishness of unsanctified men, that they will d••s stick to the world ⟨p. 326⟩for very nothing! when they know that they shall have no more from it, they are contriving for a name when they are dead. Wonderful blindness! that experience and the approach and thoughts of death, should no more open your eyes: surely if this be all that the world will do for you at the last, you should even renounce it and use it accordingly at the first.
3. You cannot but know that when you are dead and gone, the Honour of the world is none of yours, nor can it do you any good, any further than it relateth to your eternal blessedness, and your honour is serviceable to the honour of God. What good will it do you to be magnified by men, when you neither know nor feel it? what the better is a Tree or House if men commend it? And for your souls, if they be with God, they will be far above the praise of men.