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

Non laudato, sed laudant•bus prodest, saith Augustine. Esse humilem est nolle laudari in se: Qui in se laudari appetit, superbus esse convincitur, inq. id. It is the expectation of these proud and selfish men, that tempteth men to the odious art of flattery, when they find it is the way to please. And when one is flattering, and the other pleased with it, what a foolish and sordid employment have they? [Et Vani sunt qui laudantur, & mendaces qui laudant:] saith Austin. It is God to whom the Praise is due, whom we know we cannot Praise too much, whose praises we should love to speak and hear. [In laude Dei est securitas laudis; ut laudator non timet, ne de laudato erubescat] saith Austin. We may boldly Praise him, of whom we are sure we never need to be ashamed. It is God in his servants that we must praise, and it is only his Interest in our own Praise that we must regard.

3. Observe but upon what account it is that most mens Affections are carried to, or against their neighbours, and then judge by this of their self-denial. Even men that would be accounted godly, do Love or hate men according as their self-interest commandeth them, more than according to the Interest of Christ. Let a man be never so eminent in holiness, and never so useful and serviceable in the Church, and one that hath proved faithful in the greatest trials, if he do but oppose a selfish man, and be thought by him to be against him, he hateth him at the heart, or hath as base contemptuous thoughts of him, as malice can suggest. He can as easily nullify all his graces, and multiply his smallest infirmities into a swarm of crimes, by a censorious mind and a slanderous tongue, as if virtue and vice received their form and denominations from the respect of mens minds and ways to him; and ⟨image 33⟩all men were so far good or evil, as they please him, or displease him; and he expects that others should esteem men such as he is pleased to describe or call them. Let all the Country be the witnesses of a mans upright and holy life, yea let the multitude of the ungodly themselves be convinced of it, so far as that their consciences are forced to bear witness of him, as Herod did of John,