A26921:1006
Richard Baxter's dying thoughts upon Phil. I, 23 written for his own life and…
Richard Baxter's dying thoughts upon Phil. I, 23 written for his own life and the latter times of his corporal pains and weakness.
London: printed by Tho. Snowden for B. Simmons, 1683
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
2. And sins of omission have here a great part: The sweetness of God's Love is a reward which slothful Servants are unmeet for. It follows a [Well done good and faithful Servant:] There is needful a close attendance upon God, and devotedness to him, and improvement of Gospel Grace and Revelation, to make a Soul fit for amicable sweet communion with God: All that will save a Soul from Hell will not do this.
2. And sins of omission have here a great part: The sweetness of God's Love is a reward which sloathful Servants are unmeet for. It follows a [Well done good and faithful Servant:] There is needful a close attendance upon God, and devotedness to him, and improvement of Gospel Grace and Revelation, to make a Soul fit for amicable sweet communion with God: All that will save a Soul from Hell will not do this.
He that will taste these Divine Love-tokens must, 1. Be no stranger to holy Meditation and Prayer, nor unconstant, cold and cursory in them; but must dwell and walk above with God. 2. And he must be wholly addicted to improve his Masters Talents in the World, and make it his design and trade on Earth to do all the good in the World he can. And to keep his Soul clean from the flesh and worldly vanity: And to such a Soul God will make known his Love.
3. And, alas, how ordinarily doth some carnal a• fection corrupt the appetite of the Soul? When we grow too much in love with mens esteem, or with earthly Riches, or when our Throats or Phantasies can master us into obedience or vain desires of Meat, Drink, Recreation, Dwelling, &c. the Soul loseth its Appetite to things Divine; and nothing relisheth where Appetite is gone or sick: We cannot serve God and Mammon, and we cannot at once taste much pleasure both in God and Mammon. The old austere Christians found the mortification of the fleshly Lusts, a great advantage to the Souls delight in God.