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

You must daily pray to be saved from temptation, and delivered from Evil; even the Evil of sin, as well as of punishment. But self doth Love the sin, and therefore cannot long to be delivered from it, and therefore Loveth the temptation that leadeth to it, & indeed is a continual tempter to it self. Would the Covetous worldling be delivered from his worldliness? Would the Ambitious ⟨p. 359⟩Proud person be delivered from his Pride or Honours? or the sensual person from his sensual delights? No, they do not Love the Preacher or people that are against them in these ways: nor the holy self-denial that is contrary to them; nor the Scripture that condemneth them; nor indeed the Lord himself that forbids them, and is the author of all these Laws and holy ways which they abhor. So that you see how self is an enemy to every Petition in the Lords Prayer.

3. And it is a violation of all the ten Commandments. The first and second it is most directly against, and is the very thing forbidden in them: and all the rest it is against consequentially, and is the virtual breach of them, as disposing and drawing the soul thereunto.

The two Tables have two Great Commands, which are the sum of the whole Law, and all the other Commandments are consequents or particulars from these. The sum of the first Table is [Thou shalt Love the Lord thy God with all thy heart] or above all] This is the first Commandment] Thou shalt have none other Gods before me] which is put first as being the Fundamental Law, commanding subjection it self to the sovereign Power of God, which necessarily goes before all actual obedience to particular precepts. But self is directly against this, and sets up man as a God to himself: And all the unsanctified Love themselves better than God, and therefore cannot Love him above all.