For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.
Ver. 25. For whosoever will save his life] That is parsimonious of it, when Christ calls him to be prodigal of it. Man is naturally a "life loving creature." a What man is he that desireth life? I do, and I, and I, as Augustine brings men in, making ready answer. Quis vitam non vult? Life is sweet, we say, and every creature makes much of it, from the highest angel to the lowest worm, as that Father observeth. But life in God's displeasure is worse than death, as death in his true favour is true life, said Bradford to Gardiner; for such a death lays hold upon eternal life, as St Paul hath it, 1 Timothy 6:19, or (as other copies read it) upon life indeed (της οντως ζωης). For, aeterna vita vera vita, saith Augustine. "None to that," as David said of Goliath's sword. "None but Christ, none but Christ," as that martyr cried in the flames. This love of Christ made them sacrifice their dearest lives to his name, yea, profess, as John Ardely did to Bonnet, That if every hair of his head were a man, he would suffer death in them all for his sweet Christ's sake. My wife and my children are so dearly beloved unto me, that they cannot be bought from me for all the riches and possessions of the Duke of Bavaria; but for the love of my Lord God I will willingly forsake them, said George Carpenter, who was burnt at Munchen in Bavaria.
a Ζωον φιλοζωον. Aesop in Fab.