Historical Rules · 1 October 2009
Rule 117.4
Official source text from the 1 October 2009 Rules release
If a cost or effect allows a player to pay an amount of life greater than 0, the player may do so only if his or her life total is greater than or equal to the amount of the payment. If a player pays life, the payment is subtracted from his or her life total. (Players can always pay 0 life.)