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

Object. But how can I think it for my good to die? and to have my nature dissolved? Answ. Paul did desire to depart or be dissolved, and to be with Christ as best of all, Phil. 1. 23. And did not he know what was for his good as well as you? He was willing rather to be absent from the body and present with the Lord, than at home in the body and absent from the Lord; and therefore groaned earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with his house which is from heaven that mortality might be swallowed up of life, 2 Cor. 5. 1, 2, 4, 6, 8. When the Hen hath sate to hatch her young ones, they must leave the shell as good for nothing, and must come into a world which they never saw before. And what of that? Should they murmur at the breaking of t•••r former habitation? or fear the passage in•• so […] ▪ •• wide, so strange a place, in […] •f […] which they were in before? No more […] the breaking of these bodies, and […] the […] ⟨p. 248⟩of flesh, and passing under the conduct of Angels, into the presence of our Lord. God is but hatching us here by his spirit, that he may bring us out into the light of glory. And should we grudge at this?

Object. But how can I think it for my good to die? and to have my nature dissolved? Answ. Paul did desire to depart or be dissolved, and to be with Christ as best of all, Phil. 1. 23. And did not he know what was for his good as well as you? He was willing rather to be absent from the body and present with the Lord, than at home in the body and absent from the Lord; and therefore groaned earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with his house which is from heaven that mortality might be swallowed up of life, 2 Cor. 5. 1, 2, 4, 6, 8. When the Hen hath sate to hatch her young ones, they must leave the shell as good for nothing, and must come into a world which they never saw before. And what of that? Should they murmur at the breaking of tr former habitation? or fear the passag in so wide, so strange a place, in f which they were in before? No more the breaking of these bodies, and the