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

And the perfection of the soul that's now imperfect, will be such as cannot now be known. The very nature and manner of Intellection, Memory, Volition, and Affections, will be unconceivably altered and elevated, even as the soul it self will be, and much more, because of the change on the corruptible body, which in these acts it now makes use of. But of these things I have spoke so much in the Saints Rest, that I shall ⟨p. 263⟩say no more of them now, but this; that in a Believer that expects this blessed change, and knows that he shall never till then be perfect, there is much unreasonableness in the inordinate unwillingness and fears of death.

12. You know that fears and unwillingness can do no good, but much increase your suffering, and make your death a double death. If it be bitter naturally, make it not more bitter wilfully. I speak this of a violent death for Christ as well as of a natural death; For as the one cannot be avoided if we would, so the other cannot be avoided when Christ calleth us to it, without the loss of our Salvation: and therefore it may be called Necessary as well as the other. Necessary suffering and death is enough without th• addition of unnecessary fears.

13. Nay were it but to put an end to the inordinate fears of death, even death it self should be the less fearful to us. These very fears are troublesome to many an upright soul: and should we not desire to be past them! As a woman with Child is in fear of the pain & danger of her travel; but joyful when it's over; so is the true believer himself too oft afraid of the departing hour: but death puts an end to all those fears. Is it the pain that you fear? Why how soon will it be over? Is it the strangeness of your souls to God, and the place that you are passing to? This also will be quickly over; and one moment will give you such full acquaintance with the blessed God, and the Celestial inhabitants, and the world in which you are to live, that you will find your self no stranger there; but be more joyfully familiar and content than ever you were in the bosom of your dearest friend. The Infant in the Womb is a stranger to this lighter open world and all the inhabitants of it; and yet it is nor best stay there. You can fail for commodity to a Country that you never saw: