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

4. Also selfishness is an enemy to the very being of Magistracy, and to all public Officers and their work. For the very End of the Magistracy is the Public benefit, as I said before of the end of a Commonwealth: and therefore this selfishness is contrary to this end: and such men will not value a Magistrate as a public Officer, but only as one that is able to help them, or to hurt them; which is but to fear him as a potent enemy, and not to love or honour him as a Ruler. They look at Magistrates as at Tyrants that are too strong for them; and as a Cur will crouch to a Mastiff Dog, so they will crouch to them to save themselves: and this is their love, and honour, and obedience; (even such as Hobbs hath taught them in his Leviathan.) But they do not reverence that beam of Divinity which God hath communicated to them in their Authority; nor love their Governors as the Fathers of the Church and Commonwealth, for the common good and the honour of God which they are appointed to promote.

4. Also selfishness is an enemy to the very being of Magistracy, and to all publick Officers and their work. For the very End of the Magistracy is the Publick benefit, as I said before of the end of a Commonwealth: and therefore this selfishness is contrary to this end: and such men will not value a Magistrate as a publick Officer, but only as one that is able to help them, or to hurt them; which is but to fear him as a potent enemy, and not to love or honour him as a Ruler. They look at Magistrates as at Tyrants that are too strong for them; and as a Cur will crouch to a Mastiff Dog, so they will crouch to them to save themselves: and this is their love, and honour, and obedience; (even such as Hobbs hath taught them in his Leviathan.) But they do not reverence that beam of Divinity which God hath communicated to them in their Authority; nor love their Governors as the Fathers of the Church and Commonwealth, for the common good and the honour of God which they are appointed to promote.

5. And this selfishness is the deadly enemy of all right Administrations of Justice, and the due exercise of Authority in Church or Commonwealth. If a Minister be selfish, he will be shifting off the troublesome part of his duty, and will over-rule his understanding to believe that it is no duty, because dis-believing is easier than obeying. He will be forward in those duties that are necessary to his maintenance and applause, and are imposed on him by the Laws of men, but out of the