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

Answ. I answered this on the by, before: Briefly, 1. The chief part of the precept is Negative: thus q. d. [Set not up thy self against the welfare of thy neighbour: Draw not from him, or covet not that which is his to thy self, and confine not thy love and care of thyself] 2. And it comprehendeth this positive, and that as to the kind of Love, we should love both our selves and neighbours as means to God, and for the interest of God; and in that respect there is an equality: we must appreciative or estimatively love a better and more serviceable man that hath more of Gods Spirit in him, above our selves: and an equal person equally with our selves, with this Rational Love, which intendeth all for God. 3. But Natural Love which is put into a man for self-preservation will be stronger to self than to another, and alloweth us caeteris paribus to prefer, and first preserve and provide for our selves. And in this regard, our neighbour must be loved but as a second self, or next our selves. 4. But this Natural Love in the exercise of it, at least in imperate acts, is to be subservient to our Rational spiritual Love, and to be over-mastered by it. And therefore it is that as Reason teacheth an Heathen to prefer his Country before his life, (though the instinct of Nature incline us more to life) so faith teacheth a Christian much more, to prefer Gods honour, and the Gospel, Church, Common-wealth, and