A27053:596
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
London: printed by Robert White for Nevil Simmons, 1675
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
CHAP. XXXVII. Natural Life to be denied.
20. But the greatest point of self-denial is yet behind: Nothing is so near to Self as Life. Nothing that nature doth so highly value, and dearly love, and tenderly look to, and unwillingly let go. And yet this also must be denied for Christ. All other parts of selfish interest are as it were summed up and contracted in this. And many a one can yield in other points, that when he comes to this, is utterly stalled and will go away sorrowful, rather than follow Christ to the Death. Nothing in this world is so dear to natural man as his life. And therefore death is a thing that he knows not how to choose, nor to submit to, if he could avoid it.
20. BUt the greatest point of self-denial is yet behind: Nothing is so near to Self as Life. Nothing that nature doth so highly value, and dearly love, and tenderly look to, and unwillingly let go. And yet this also must be denied for Christ. All other parts of selfish interest are as it were summed up and contracted in this. And many a one can yield in other points, that when he comes to this, is utterly stalled and will go away sorrowful, rather than follow Christ to the Death. Nothing in this world is so dear to natural man as his life. And therefore death is a thing that he knows not how to choose, nor to submit to, if he could avoid it.
In three cases only I remember that Heathens themselves have chosen death. First in case of some extreme torment or other misery, which they had no other hope to prevent or end. But this was but a choosing a speedier or easier Death before a more grievous death, though remote; or before a death that had so great a misery for its fore-runner: or at least before such a life as is a continual death. And so the conquered Heathens would frequently kill themselves, to prevent a more dishonourable cruel death from the hand of the Conqueror; And so many a one in uncurable misery wieth rather to die than endure it; partly because that the suffering is so great as to overcome all the comforts of life. (For I yield that some degrees of misery with life are more terrible to nature than death;) and partly because that they know they must die at last however. Secondly, in a desire of fame, that they may leave behind them an honourable name when they are