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

15. Nay more, lest the bloody way of death should seem too strange and terrible to us, the Lord Jesus our Head hath trod that path; and that of purpose to conquer death, by taking away the sting and principal cause of terrors, and making that a passage to felicity, that was a passage to everlasting misery: So that ever since Christ hath gone this way, there is no such danger in it to his followers. Where the Captain of our salvation goeth, his Soldiers may boldly follow him. Forasmuch as the children were partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part with them, that he might destroy by death him that had the power of death, that is the Devil; and might deliver them that through fear of death, were all their life time subject to bondage] Heb. 2. 14, 15. He hath cleared our way, and taken out of it the forest thorns, and hath prepared us an habitation with himself. And shall we fear to go the way that Christ hath gone, and purposely gone to clear it for us?

15. Nay more, lest the bloody way of death should seem too strange and terrible to us, the Lord Jesus our Head hath trod that path; and that of purpose to conquer death, by taking away the sting and principal cause of terrors, and making that a passage to felicity, that was a passage to everlasting misery: So that ever since Christ hath gone this way, there is no such danger in it to his followers. Where the Captain of our salvation goeth, his Souldiers may boldly follow him. For asmuch as the children were partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part with them, that he might destroy by death him that had the power of death, that is the Devil; and might deliver them that through fear of death, were all their life time subject to bondage] Heb. 2. 14, 15. He hath cleared our way, and taken out of it the forest thorns, and hath prepared us an habitation with himself. And shall we fear to go the way that Christ hath gone, and purposely gone to clear it for us?

16. Moreover Consider, that the Celestial inhabitants have purposely made themselves familiar with us in this lower world, that they might acquaint us with themselves, and lead us up to their blessed habitation, and fit us for it; No man of common reason can doubt but that those more capacious glorious parts of the Universe, are stored with inhabitants answerable to their glory; when we see every corner of the lower world to be replenished with inhabitants. And Scripture and some experience tells us, that those Angels of God are conversant here about us men: They bear us up in their hands, that we dash not our foot against a stone, they pitch their tents and encamp about us, as an appointed guard for our security: It is their very office: for what are they but ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them that shall be heirs of salvation?