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

CHAP. LXVIII. Enemy of all Society, Relations and Common good.

6. Moreover, this selfishness is the enemy to all Societies, and Relations, and consequently to the common good. And it is not only indirectly and consequentially, but directly that it strikes at the very foundation of all. For the manifesting of this, consider in what respects this selfishness is at enmity with Societies.

6. MOreover, this selfishness is the enemy to all Societies, and Relations, and consequently to the common good. And it is not only indirectly and consequentially, but directly that it strikes at the very foundation of all. For the manifesting of this, consider in what respects this selfishness is at enmity with Societies.

1. The End of Societies is essential to them: and this End is the Common good of the Society: and therefore a Republic hath its name from hence, because it ⟨p. 381⟩is constituted and to be administered for the Commonweal, or the good of all. Now selfishness is contrary to this common good which is the End of all Societies. Every selfish person is his Own End; and cares not to hinder the common good if he do but think it will promote his own: And how is that Family, Church, or Commonwealth like to prosper, where most (alas, most indeed) have an End of their own, that is set up against the End and being of the Society? For though the real good of particular persons is usually comprehended in the common good, yet that is but in subserviency to the public good, and is not observed usually by these persons who principally look at themselves. And it commonly falls out that the public welfare cannot be obtained but by such self-denial of the Members, which these men will not submit to; though they incur a greater hurt by their selfishness. Little do they think of the common good: it is their own matters that they regard and mind. So it go well with them, let Church and Commonwealth do what it will: They can bear any ones trouble or losses save their own. They are every man as a Church, as a Commonwealth, as a world to themselves. If they be well, all is well with them: If they prosper, they think it's a good world, what ever others undergo. If they be poor, or sick, or under any other suffering, it is all one to them as if calamity had covered the earth: and if they see that they must die, they take it as if it were the dissolution of the world, (unless as they leave either name or posterity behind them in which a shadow of them may survive.). And therefore they use to say [when I am gone, all the world is gone with me.]