A26921:111
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.
§ 37. And I am so sensible of the power and Plague of selfishness, and how it now corrupteth, tempteth and disquieteth me, that when I feel any fears lest individuation cease, and my Soul fall into one common Soul (as the Stoics thought all Souls did at death) I find great cause to suspect that this ariseth from the power of this corrupting selfishness: For Reason seeth no cause at all to fear it were it so.
§ 37. And I am so sensible of the power and Plague of selfishness, and how it now corrupteth, tempteth and disquieteth me, that when I feel any fears lest individuation cease, and my Soul fall into one common Soul (as the Stoicks thought all Souls did at death) I find great cause to suspect that this ariseth from the power of this corrupting selfishness: For Reason seeth no cause at all to fear it were it so.
§ 38. 4. For I find also that the nature of Love is to desire as near a Union as is possible; And the strongest Love doth strongliest desire it. Fervent Lovers think they can scarce be too much One. And Love is our Perfection, and therefore so is Union.
§ 39. 5. And I find that when Christians had the first and full pourings out of the Spirit they had the ferventest Love, and the nearest Union, and the least desire of propriety and distance.