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

And doubtless, the very state of mans Apostasy did lie in turning from Cod to self, and to the creature for self: so that he now studieth, and useth, and loveth the Creature but for himself: And so he would have himself, and all as far out of the hands of God in his own, as possibly he can. I gave you my thoughts in the beginning, that this was the meaning of mans knowing Good and Evil by the Fall: And since I wrote that, I meet with the same Exposition in Damascene, do Orthodox. fid. li. 11. c. 11. p. (mihi) 113. part of whose words I shall here translate [In the midst of Paradise, God planted the Tree of Life, and the Tree of Knowledge: And the Tree of Knowledge was for the trial, and proof and the ⟨p. 355⟩exercise of mans obedience and disobedience. And therefore it is called the Tree of Knowledge of good and evil: Or because it gave man a power to Know his Own nature; which indeed to the perfect is good, but to the infirm is evil; and to them that are yet prone to concupiscence, as strong meats to the weak and those that need milk. For the Lord that created us, would not have us careful and troubled about many things, nor to become Contrivers and Providers for our own lives: into which it was that Adam fell. For when he had eaten, he knew that he was naked, and made himself an apron of fig-leaves to cover his nakedness. But before both Adam and Eve were naked and not ashamed. And God would have had us insensible of (or not to suffer by) such things: For this is but an insensibility or impassibility. But we had One work only to do without vexation and care, which is the work of Angels, unweariedly and continually to praise our Creator, and to delight in the contemplation of him, and to cast all our care on him, as he taught us by the Prophet David, saying, Cast thy care on the Lord, and he shall nourish thee; and the Lord taught his own Disciples in the Gospel, Take no care what you shall eat, nor wherewith you shall be clothed; and again, Seek first the Kingdom of God and his Righteousness, and these things shall be added to you; and to Martha: Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things, but one thing is needful: Mary hath chosen best part which shall not be taken from her;] that is, to sit at his feet, and hear his word; and this is the tree of Life.]

And doubtless, the very state of mans Apostacy did lie in turning from Cod to self, and to the creature for self: so that he now studyeth, and useth, and loveth the Creature but for himself: And so he would have himself, and all as far out of the hands of God in his own, as possibly he can. I gave you my thoughts in the beginning, that this was the meaning of mans knowing Good and Evil by the Fall: And since I wrote that, I meet with the same Exposition in Damascene, do Orthodox. fid. li. 11. c. 11. p. (mihi) 113. part of whose words I shall here translate [In the midst of Paradise, God planted the Tree of Life, and the Tree of Knowledge: And the Tree of Knowledge was for the tryal, and proof and the