He that findeth his life shall lose it
That man that seeks to preserve his life, and the temporal
enjoyments of it, by a sinful compliance with his friends and the
world, and by a denial of Christ, or non-confession of him; if he
is not, by the providence of God, deprived of the good things of
life, and dies a shameful death, both which are sometimes the
case of such persons; yet he is sure to lose the happy and
eternal life of his soul and body, in the world to come: so that
the present finding of life, or the possession of it, on such
sinful terms, will in the issue prove an infinite and irreparable
loss unto him. On the other hand, Christ observes,
he that loseth his life for my sake, shall find
it.
That man that is willing to forego the present advantages of
life, to suffer reproach and persecution, and lay down his life
cheerfully for the sake of Christ and his Gospel, for the
profession of his name, rather than drop, deny, conceal, or
neglect any truth and ordinance of his, shall find his soul
possessed of eternal life, as soon as separated from his body;
and shall find his corporal life again, in the resurrection morn,
to great advantage; and shall live with Christ in soul and body,
in the utmost happiness, to all eternity.