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. LI. Q. Whether Self-denial lie in renouncing Propriety?

Quest. 1. Whether doth self-denial require us to renounce Propriety, and to know nothing as our own (as the Monks among the Papists swear to do, as part of their state of perfection: & a book called The way to the Sabbath of Rest, doth teach us?)

Quest. 1. WHether doth self-denial require us to renounce Propriety, and to know nothing as our own (as the Monks among the Papists swear to do, as part of their state of perfection: & a book called The way to the Sabbath of Rest, dothteach us?)

Answ. 1. That there should be no Propriety in goods, or estate among men, is contrary to the will of God, who hath made men his Stewards, and trusted several persons with several talents and forbidden stealing, and commanded men to labour that they may have to give to him that needeth; and he that hath this worlds goods and seeth his brother have need, must not ⟨p. 332⟩shut up the bowels of his compassion. It is a standing duty to give to the poor; and we shall therefore have the poor always with us for this exercise of our Charity. And he that hath nothing, can give nothing, nor use it for God. Why did Paul require them to give to the distressed Saints, and maintain the Ministry, and gather for such uses every first day of the week, if he would have men have nothing to give? This therefore is a conceit that needs nothing but Reason and the reading and belief of Scripture to confute it.