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. XXXV. Our Native Country and Habitations denied.

18. Another part of Carnal self-interest to be denied, is, Our Native Country, or place of habitation, with all the Comforts and Accommodations they afford us. It is lawful to have some special Love to our own Country; but not such as shall prevail against the love of Christ, or seem sufficient to entangle us in sin. We must show our Love to it principally by desiring and endeavouring, that Gods name may be hallowed, and his Kingdom maintained, and his will fulfilled among and by our Countrymen: But if they should turn enemies to the Gospel or to Godliness, we must love the servants of God abroad much better than his enemies at home; and wish the success of his servants though of other Countries, against his enemies, though they were of our own. And if we cannot serve God or enjoy the freedom of a good conscience at home, another Nation, though it were in the utmost parts of the Earth, where we may better serve God, must seem a better place to us. And if we be banished or necessitated to forsake our Country, we must not stick at it, for the cause of Christ. It is none of the greatest trials to be put to remove from one Country ⟨p. 228⟩to another, as long as we have necessaries, wherever we come. We have the same God to be with us, and take care of us, beyond sea, as at home: the same earth, and air, and sun to shine upon us: The same Spirit, and grace, and promises do accompany us: The same Saints of God, and Ordinances of Worship may be had in other Countries as our own. It's a kind of childishness to make such a matter of being driven out of one Kingdom into another, when we have the same or greater mercies in the other. All is but our Fathers house; and we do but remove from room to room. The Earth is the Lords and the fullness thereof. As I said before of Imprisonment, so I say of Banishment; It is in our own Wills by consenting to it, to make it no banishment. If you will make an affliction and a great matter of it, you may. A Merchant or Factor can live for his commodity, far from home, even among Turks and Infidels, and take it for no banishment: Much more should you do so, for the sake of Christ. Every place is our own Country where our Masters work lieth. We are but pilgrims; and as long as we are not out of our way, we need not complain much for being out of our Country.