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

Direct. 4. Moreover it will further your self-denial ⟨p. 402⟩to remember what you will get by selfishness: God will have his Ends and Honour out of you one way or other, whether you will or no; He will have your goods from you, and your lives from you; and the faster you hold them, the more you will suffer when he wringeth them out of your hands. The most covetous man would part with his money to buy a Lordship, if he knew it would else be taken from him: A worldly treasure is obnoxious to rust, and moths, and Thieves: and if you exchange it not for the heavenly treasure in time, and remove not your riches to the world that you must for ever live in, what will you do when you must remove your selves? And all your self-denial is but such an exchange or removal which all should be glad of that know they must be gone themselves; Nay more, consider still that selfishness makes you an Idol to your self, and therefore you do but set up your s•lves as a Mark for the jealous God to shoot at, and every hour you have reason to expect, that the terrible hand of Justice ••ould lay hold upon you, and tr• you at the bar of that God whose Prerogative you did Usurp.

Direct. 4. Moreover it will further your self-denial ⟨p. 402⟩to remember what you will get by selfishness: God will have his Ends and Honour out of you one way or other, whether you will or no; He will have your goods from you, and your lives from you; and the faster you hold them, the more you will suffer when he wringeth them out of your hands. The most covetous man would part with his money to buy a Lordship, if he knew it would else be taken from him: A worldly treasure is obnoxious to rust, and mothes, and Thieves: and if you exchange it not for the heavenly treasure in time, and remove not your riches to the world that you must for ever live in, what will you do when you must remove your selves? And all your self-denial is but such an exchange or removal which all should be glad of that know they must be gone themselves; Nay more, consider still that selfishness makes you an Idol to your self, and therefore you do but set up your s•lves as a Mark for the jealous God to shoot at, and every hour you have reason to expect, that the terrible hand of Justice ould lay hold upon you, and tr you at the bar of that God whose Prerogative you did Usurp.