A27053:854
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
London: printed by Robert White for Nevil Simmons, 1675
Treatise › Chapter 65: Contrary to the State of Holiness and Happiness.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
CHAP. LXV. Contrary to the State of Holiness and Happiness.
3. Moreover, Selfishness is contrary to the State of Holiness and Happiness: contrary to every grace, and contrary to the life of Glory. For it is the use of all grace to recover the soul from selfishness to God: that God may be Loved, and Self-love may be overcome: that God may be trusted, and pleased, and his service may be our care and business, when before our care was to Please our selves.
3. MOreover, Selfishness is contrary to the State of Holiness and Happiness: contrary to every grace, and contrary to the life of Glory. For it is the use of all grace to recover the soul from selfishness to God: that God may be Loved, and Self-love may be overcome: that God may be trusted, and pleased, and his service may be our care and business, when before our care was to Please our selves.
And the very felicity of the soul consisteth in a closing and communion with God. The soul that will be happy, must be conscious of self-insufficiency, and must go out of it self, and seek after life in God; It must forsake it self, and apply it self to him. Men lose their labour till they deny themselves, by going to a broken empty cistern, and forsaking the fountain of living waters. The nearer men are to God, and the more fully they are conformed to him, and close with him, and know him, and love him, the happier they are. Glory it self is but the nearest and fullest intuition and fruition of God: And he that hath most of him here in his soul, and in the creatures, providences, and ordinances, is the happiest man on Earth, and likest to the glorified. And there is no approach to God but by departing from carnal self. I know self-seeking men do think of finding more peace and comfort in that way: but they are alway deceived of their hopes: It is self-denial that is the way to peace and comfort. While we rest on our selves, or are taken up with anxious caring for our selves, we are but tossed up and down as on a tempestuous sea, and are seeking Rest but never find it: but when