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

When this self-love describeth any person, when it writeth Histories, or Controversies about any cause or person that they are concerned in, how little credit do they deserve! Whence is it else that we have such contrary descriptions of Persons and Actions in the writings of the several Parties as we find? How holy, and temperate, and exceedingly industrious a man was Calvin, if the whole multitude of sober, godly men that knew him may be credited; or if we may believe his ⟨image 34⟩most constant intimate acquaintance; or if we may judge by his judicious, pious, numerous writings: And yet if the Papists may be believed (contrary to the witness of a Popish City where he was bred) he was a stigmatized Sodomite; he was a glutton (that eat but once a day, and that sparingly;) he was an idle fleshly man (that preached usually every day, and wrote so many excellent Volumes;) and he dyed blaspheming and calling on the Devil (that is, in longing and praying for his remove to Christ, crying daily, How long lord! how long!) and how comes all this inhumane forgery about? Why, one lying Pelagian Apostate Bolsecke wrote it (whom Calvin had shamed for his errors:) and a peevish Lutheran; Schlusselburgius hath related part of it from him; and this is sufficient warrant for the Papists, ordinarily to persuade their followers it is true, and with seared Consciences to publish it in their writings, though Massonius and some other of the soberer sort, among themselves, do ••ame them for the forgery. So do they by Luther, Beza, and many more.

When this self-love describeth any person, when it writeth Histories, or Controversies about any cause or person that they are concerned in, how little credit do they deserve! Whence is it else that we have such contrary descriptions of Persons and Actions in the writings of the several Parties as we find? How holy, and temperate, and exceedingly industrious a man was Calvin, if the whole multitude of sober, godly men that knew him may be credited; or if we may believe his ⟨image 34⟩most constant intimate acquaintance; or if we may judge by his judicious, pious, numerous writings: And yet if the Papists may be believed (contrary to the witness of a Popish City where he was bred) he was a stigmatized Sodomite; he was a glutton (that eat but once a day, and that sparingly;) he was an idle fleshly man (that preached usually every day, and wrote so many excellent Volumes;) and he dyed blaspheming and calling on the Devil (that is, in longing and praying for his remove to Christ, crying daily, How long lord! how long!) and how comes all this inhumane forgery about? Why, one lying Pelagian Apostate Bolsecke wrote it (whom Calvin had shamed for his errours:) and a peevish Lutheran; Schlusselburgius hath related part of it from him; and this is sufficient warrant for the Papists, ordinarily to perswade their followers it is true, and with seared Consciences to publish it in their writings, though Massonius and some other of the soberer sort, among themselves, do ame them for the forgery. So do they by Luther, Beza, and many more.