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

7. And then the selfish are such causes of Division, that if they did no other harm, they would break both Church and State into pieces, if their humour were predominant, and not restrained or purged out. And in this regard selfishness is the direct enemy of Societies, and is always at work to dissolve them into Independent individuals. A Society is a Political Body which must have but one Head, and one Interest, and one End: But when selfishness prevaileth, there are as many Heads, and Ends, and Interests as Persons: If they be in a Church, every one is the Teacher and Ruler: and every one must have his opinion countenanced, and his humour satisfied; Every one must have his way and will: And how is this possible, when their minds are so various and contrary to one another; and their Interests so inconsistent, and there are as many Rulers as persons: when every man is drawing to himself, and ⟨p. 388⟩there is no centre in which they can unite, what work is there like to be in the Church? What progress could be made in the building of Babel, when no man was ruled by another, but every man ran confusedly after his single imagination? what an Army will it be, and how are they like to speed in fight, where every Soldier is instead of a Captain and General to himself, and one runs this way, and another that way, and one will have one course taken, and another another course, and every one fighteth on his own head: such work doth selfishness make in the Church▪ It is this that hath broken it into so many parcels, and would crumble it all to dust if it should prevail.

7. And then the selfish are such causes of Division, that if they did no other harm, they would break both Church and State into pieces, if their humor were predominant, and not restrained or purged out. And in this regard selfishness is the direct enemy of Societies, and is always at work to dissolve them into Independant individuals. A Society is a Political Body which must have but one Head, and one Interest, and one End: But when selfishness prevaileth, there are as many Heads, and Ends, and Interests as Persons: If they be in a Church, every one is the Teacher and Ruler: and every one must have his opinion countenanced, and his humor satisfied; Every one must have his way and will: And how is this possible, when their minds are so various and contrary to one another; and their Interests so inconsistent, and there are as many Rulers as persons: when every man is drawing to himself, and