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

20. Lastly, I would ask you, Are you contented to attain no other end of all your life and labours and sufferings than here you do attain? What is it that you pray for, and seek and strive for? is it for no more than is to be had on earth? If you have no higher design, intentions or desires, I cannot much blame you to be loth to die. But if you have, me thinks no man should be unwilling to attain his end. What have you done and suffered so much for heaven, and now would you not go to it? Had you rather all your labour were lost? Do you desire to be happy, or do you not? If you do, (as certainly you do) would you not go where happiness it to be had, when you are sure that it is not not to be had on earth? What say you! is there not plain reason in all this that I propound to you? It is a sad case, when men seek not God and Heaven as their felicity, but only as a lesser evil than hell, which they would endure, rather than enjoy, when they can keep no longer this earthly life which they account their felicity; where this is the case, it's a sad case. And were not this a common case, there would not be so much unwillingness to depart.

And now Christian Reader, I beseech thee weigh these foregoing Considerations, and judge whether it be not a contradiction to thy profession, and unseemly for a believer to be unwilling to die when God shall call him: Much more to cast away everlasting life, for the saving of his temporal life but a little longer! O learn the needful lesson of self-denial, especially in this point of denying your lives! He that can do this, can do all; and may be sure that he is mortified indeed: ⟨p. 272⟩And he that can do all the rest, and sticks but at this, and could part with any thing for Christ save his life, doth indeed do nothing, nor is it esteemed self-denying. It is a lesson therefore that is exceeding necessary to be learned, and worthy all your time and diligence, even to deny your Lives for the love of Christ.

And now Christian Reader, I beseech thee weigh these foregoing Considerations, and judge whether it be not a contradiction to thy profession, and unseemly for a believer to be unwilling to die when God shall call him: Much more to cast away evelasting life, for the saving of his temporal life but a little longer! O learn the needful lesson of self-denial, especially in this point of denying your lives! He that can do this, can do all; and may be sure that he is mortified indeed: