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

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.

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 honor 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.

4. Nay as such a design is a dangerous sign of your Damnation, so I beseech you think, what comfort it will be to your soul in Hell to be extolled and well spoken of on earth? Will you cast away your souls, to leave a Name of renown behind you? And how unsuitable will such Honour be to your condition? surely if you be there acquainted with it, you must needs be more tormented, both to remember that you were seeking the fame of the world, instead of the eternal glory, and to consider what a miserable wretch it is that men are praising and magnifying on earth. Ah then you will think with your selves [Little do the poor inhabitants of the earth know what I am suffering while they are extolling me. Is the applause of mortals suitable to a poor tormented soul? Alas that at one and the same time, men should be extolling me, and Devils tormenting me? How little ease do all their acclamations afford this poor distressed soul!] How honourable are the names of Alexander the Great, & Caesar, & Aristotle here on earth! but alas ⟨p. 327⟩what cause have we to fear that they are lamenting their misery, while we are speaking of their glory!