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

3. In the state of Innocency, though man had naturally an averseness from death and bodily pains, as being natural evils, and had a desire of the welfare even of the flesh it self; yet as his body was subject to his soul, and his senses to his Reason, so his bodily ease and welfare was to be esteemed and desired and sought, but in a due subordination to his spiritual welfare, and especially to his Makers Will. So that though he was to value his Life, yet he was much more to value his everlasting life, and the pleasure and Glory of his Lord.

3. In the state of Innocency, though man had naturally an aversness from death and bodily pains, as being natural evils, and had a desire of the welfare even of the flesh it self; yet as his body was subject to his soul, and his senses to his Reason, so his bodily ease and welfare was to be esteemed and desired and sought, but in a due subordination to his spiritual welfare, and especially to his Makers Will. So that though he was to value his Life, yet he was much more to value his everlasting life, and the pleasure and Glory of his Lord.

But now when man is fallen from God to Himself, his Life and earthly felicity is the sweetest and the dearest thing to him that is. So that he preferreth it before the Pleasing of God and everlasting life: And therefore he seeketh it more, and holdeth it faster as long as he can, and parteth with it more unwillingly. As Innocent Nature had an appetite to the objects of sense; but corrupted nature hath an enraged, greedy, rebellious and inordinate appetite to them: so Innocent nature had a love to this natural earthly life and the comforts of it: but corrupted Nature hath such an inordinate love to them, as that all things else are made but subordinate to them, and swallowed up in this gulf: even God himself is so far loved as he befriendeth these our carnal ends, and furthereth our earthly prosperity and life.

But now when man is faln from God to Himself, his Life and earthly felicity is the sweetest and the dearest thing to him that is. So that he preferreth it before the Pleasing of God and everlasting life: And therefore he seeketh it more, and holdeth it faster as long as he can, and parteth with it more unwillingly. As Innocent Nature had an appetite to the objects of sense; but corrupted nature hath an enraged, greedy, rebellious and inordinate appetite to them: so Innocent nature had a love to this natural earthly life and the comforts of it: but corrupted Nature hath such an inordinate love to them, as that all things else are made but subordinate to them, and swallowed up in this gulf: even God himself is so far loved as he befriendeth these our carnal ends, and furthereth our earthly prosperity and life.