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. LIX. Q. Is self-denial to be without Passion?

Quest. 9. Whether self-denial consist in the laying by of all Passions, and bringing the soul to an impassionate serenity?

Quest. 9. WHether self-denial consist in the laying by of all Passions, and bringing the soul to an impassionate serenity?

Answ. The Stoics and some Behmenists think so: But so doth not God or any well informed man. For 1. God would not have made the Affections in vain: It is not the Passions, but the disorder of them that is sinful, or the fruit of sin. 2. We are commanded to ⟨p. 346⟩exercise all the Affections or Passions for God, and on other suitable objects. We must Love God with all the heart, and soul, and might, which is not without affection, or passion. We must Love his servants, his Church, his Word, his ways: We must fear him above them that can kill us: we must hunger and thirst after his Righteousness, and pant after him as the Hart doth after the Water-brooks: We must be angry and sin not. A zeal for God is the life of our Graces: we must always be zealous in a good matter; fervent in Spirit, serving the Lord. We must hate evil, and sorrow for it, when we are guilty, and grieve under the sense of our miscarriages, and Gods displeasure. And all these (expressly commanded in the Word) are holy Affections or Passions of the soul.

Answ. The Stoicks and some Behmenists think so: But so doth not God or any well informed man. For 1. God would not have made the Affections in vain: It is not the Passions, but the disorder of them that is sinful, or the fruit of sin. 2. We are commanded to