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. LXXIII. Ten Directions to get self-denial.

IV. I Come now to the last part of my task, which is to tell you, what course you should take to procure self-denial. For though it be the gift of God, yet there are certain means appointed us for the attainment of it, and God useth to give it men in the use of his means, and by those means must it be confirmed and continued.

Direction 1. Set faith a work upon the promises of God and upon everlasting life: For the Flesh will not be taken off these lower things till you have found out better, and such as will be sure to save you harmless. The most covetous man would let go silver if he may have gold instead of it Set faith a pleading the case with the flesh: and urge your own hearts with the Certainty, the Nearness, the Glory, the Eternity of the Kingdom which by self-denial you may attain; and if they will not yield to such a change as this, they are unreasonable unbelieving hearts.

Direct. 2. Never be deluded to forget the vanity, the brevity, and the emptiness and insufficiency, of all these earthly things, which self so adhereth to as to neglect the promised life of blessedness. Acquaint your own hearts what a nothing it is that they make so much of, and follow so greedily and hold so fast: show them in the Sanctuary the glass of the word of God, which will tell them what will be the end of all, and where all their worldly prosperity will leave them? Ask your hearts, [Can I keep these things for ever; or not? If not? Is it not better let them go for something, than for nothing;