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

7. In the mean time, consider also, that they are all Deserved sufferings. You deserve them from God, though not from man: Nay they are a thousand fold less than your deservings: If free grace have pardoned you the main, and rescued you from the torments of Hell, me thinks the remembrance of this wonderful mercy, should make you patiently bear the Fatherly chastisements that tend to the perfecting your deliverance.

8. And so much the rather because They are sufferings more gainful to you, than the greatest prosperity is to the world. When you have suffered for Christ as much as your natures are able to bear, you need not fear being losers by him: As he is engaged by promise to make you amends, and to give you the reward of inheritance of glory, so he is easily able to accomplish it: All ⟨p. 234⟩the Saints of God are in the way to glory: but his suffering Saints are in the nearest way. All his servants are unspeakably gainers by him: but his sufferers are in the most thriving way: They shall have an eminency of Reward, or a Reward above the common Reward, Rev. 7. 14. [These are they that come out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the Throne of God, and serve him day and night in his Temple, and he that suits on the Throne shall dwell among them.] The Churches therefore glory in their Martyrs, and for the patience and faith of Christians in all the persecutions and tribulations which they endure; A manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that they may be counted worthy of the Kingdom of God, for which they suffer: seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble them; and to them that are troubled, Rest with the Saints, 2 Thess. 1. 4, 5, 6. Mat. 19. 27, 28, 29. Peter said Behold we have forsaken all and followed thee; what shall we have therefore? And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, that ye which have followed me in the Regeneration, when the Son of man shall sit in the Throne of his glory, ye shall also sit on twelve Thrones judging the twelve Tribes of Israel: & every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or Sisters, or Wife, or Children, or Lands for my names sake shall receive an hundred fold, and shall inherit everlasting life.] And is it not better suffer under these temrs of unconceivable advantage, than to suffer in a natural way for nothing?