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

The word of God is quick and powerful, and a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart; and it is the plain word of that God, that feareth not the faces of the Proudest sinners on earth, and will not flatter, nor daub with any of them all, but will tell them to their faces what they are, and what will become of them if they do not turn, and what they must trust to: This is the word that God hath put into our mouths, and commanded us to preach to them: not the flattering words of an inferior, nor the tender language of a man-pleaser, but the commanding words of the God of heaven, and the peremptory threatenings of everlasting fire, against all unconverted, unsanctified men, denounced from him that feareth none of them all, but will make them all stoop at last to him, and fear, and tremble ⟨p. 375⟩before his Majesty. And is it any wonder if Proud and selfish sinners are displeased with such a word as this? They stand all the while they are hearing a plain and powerful Preacher, as prisoners arraigned at the bar; and sometime are ready to tremble as Felix did, when he heard Paul dilating of righteousness, and temperance and the judgement to come, Acts 24. 25. And can self endure to be thus used and arraigned for its life? especially when they think it is but by a man? For they have not the understanding to know that it is Christ that owneth all that his Messengers speak by his Commission. Hence it is that men hate those Ministers that they feel thus to judge them in their Doctrine, and take them for their enemies for telling them the truth, Gal. 4. 16. and think they are but the troublers of the Country, as Ahab called Elijah the troubler of Israel, which he had troubled himself, 1 Kings 18. 17. and meet them as he did the same Prophet, 1 Kings 21. 20. Hast thou found me O mine Enemy? They meet not a Minister as the Messenger of God that calls them to repentance, but as an enemy in the field, to strive against him, and raise up all the reasonings and passions of their souls against him, because he condemneth their unregenerate state, tells them but what God hath charged him to tell them: when the poor sinners consider not, that before God hath done with them, as sure as they breathe, he will make them either by grace or Judgement, condemn themselves as much as any of his Ministers condemned them, (from the word of God) at whom they were most offended.