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

8. Consider also that it is upon terms of the highest advantage imaginable to your selves, that God calls you to resign and lay down your lives. It is not indeed to lose them, but to save them, as my Text doth promise you [He that loseth his life shall save it.] No more than you lose your clothes which you put off at Night and put on again in the Morning: Or rather, no more than you lose your lousy rotten rags, when you put them off at Night, and are to have in the Morning a Suit of Princely attire in their stead. Will any man say, these rags are lost? At least they will not say that the man is a loser by the change. That is not lost that is committed to God, upon the ground of a promise. Nor that which is laid out in his Service, at his command. Reason will tell us, that no man can be a loser by a course of submissive Obedience to God. You cannot be at so much cost for him, or offer him so dear a service, which he is not able and willing to satisfy you for a thousand fold. God will not be beholden to any man. You cannot bring him in your debt, beyond what he doth by his bountiful promise: But if ⟨p. 250⟩you could, he would not continue in your debt. You'll make nothing of your death, if you do not either undergo it for Christ, or bear it submissively by the power of heavenly love constraining you. Merely to die whether you will or no, as a fruit of sin, is common to the most ungodly men: But if the love of God can make you voluntarily submit to death (whether natural, or violent from persecutors) what a glorious advantage may you make of it? You will 1. Put your salvation more out of doubt •han any other course in this world could do. For whosoever perisheth, it's most certain that such as these all be saved▪ 2. And therefore you may die with the greatest confidence and joy, as having seen the matter of your doubts removed, and dying in the very exercise of those graces that have the promise of salvation: and in such a […] as hath the fullest and most frequent promises in the Gospel. 3. And then the Crown of Martyrdom is the most glorious Crown. You will not have an ordinary place in heaven. These are that part of the Heavenly Host that sit and nearest to the Throne of God, and that praise him with the highest joys, who hath brought them through tribulations, and redeemed them by his blood.

8. Consider also that it is upon terms of the highest advantage imaginable to your selves, that God calls you to resign and lay down your lives. It is not indeed to lose them, but to save them, as my Text doth promise you [He that loseth his life shall save it.] No more than you lose your cloaths which you put off at Night and put on again in the Morning: Or rather, no more than you lose your lousie rotten rags, when you put them off at Night, and are to have in the Morning a Suit of Princely attire in their stead. Will any man say, these rags are lost? At least they will not say that the man is a loser by the change. That is not lost that is committed to God, upon the ground of a promise. Nor that which is laid out in his Servive, at his command. Reason will tell us, that no man can be a loser by a course of submissive Obedience to God. You cannot be at so much cost for him, or offer him so dear a service, which he is not able and willing to satisfie you for a thousand fold. God will not be beholden to any man. You cannot bring him in your debt, beyond what he doth by his bountiful promise: But if