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

I Have now finished what I had to say to you on this great and needful subject: And I have stayed the longer on it, that I might occasion your own thoughts to be the longer on it: For it is not a few hasty running thoughts that will make any great impression on the soul. And now, Christian friends, whoever you are that hear or read these words, I earnestly entreat you in the name of God that you will set your hearts to the deep consideration of the nature and odiousness of this sin of selfishness; and of the nature and necessity of self-denial. You will never effectually hate and resist the sin which you think lightly of, and is not in any great discredit with you; nor will you fly from it with fear and care and vigilancy, till you apprehend the dangerousness of it. I have not only told you, but proved it to you; that this is one of the most odious and dangerous sins in the world, even the sum of all iniquity, that containeth a thousand sins in the bowels of it: This is it that generateth all other vices, and fills the world with swarms of mischief. It is this selfishness that corrupteth all estates, and distracteth all Societies, and disturbeth all affairs. Never look further for the cause of our calamities: It is self that causeth the miscarriages and negligence of the ⟨p. 412⟩Princes, Governors and •istrates of the world, while they look all at their •nterest, and little at the things of Jesus Christ, or at least prefer themselves before him. It is self that causeth the disobedience of subjects, while they judge themselves capable of censuring their Rulers for matters that are beyond their reach; and grudge at all necessary burdens for the common good, because they are a little pinched by them. It is self that hath kindled the miserable Wars that are laying waste so many Countries, and that makes such woeful havoc in the World. It is self that hath so lamentably abused Religion, and introduced so many fantastical self-conceits under the name of high Scholastical subtleties: and that hath let in so many errors in Doctrine and Worship, and defiled Gods Ordinances, and corrupted and almost extinguished the Discipline of Christ in the Church.