Richard Baxter's dying thoughts upon Phil. I, 23 written for his own life and…

And if we are notwithstanding all this, distinct Beings from God now, we shall be so then. For we shall not be Annihilated, and we shall not be so advanced as to be deified, and of creatures or distinct Beings, turned into a Being infinitely above us. If we be not Parts of God now, we shall not be so then.

But if they could prove that we are so now, we should quickly prove to them, 1. That then God hath material divisible parts (as the Stoics thought.) 2. And that we are no such parts, as are not distinct from one another; but some are tormented, and some happy. And 3. That (as is said) it will be no abatement of the misery of the tormented, nor of the felicity of the blessed, to tell them that they are all parts of God: For, though the manner of our Union with him, and dependence on him, be past our comprehension, yet that we are distinct and distant from each other, and have each one a joy or misery of his own, is past all doubt. Therefore there is no Union with God to be feared by holy Souls, but the utmost possible to be highliest desired.

But if they could prove that we are so now, we should quickly prove to them, 1. That then God hath material divisible parts (as the Stoicks thought.) 2. And that we are no such parts, as are not distinct from one another; but some are tormented, and some happy. And 3. That (as is said) it will be no abatement of the misery of the tormented, nor of the felicity of the blessed, to tell them that they are all parts of God: For, though the manner of our Union with him, and dependance on him, be past our comprehension, yet that we are distinct and distant from each other, and have each one a joy or misery of his own, is past all doubt. Therefore there is no Union with God to be feared by holy Souls, but the utmost possible to be highliest desired.

§ 46. And if our Union with God shall not cease our Individuation, or resolve us into a Principle to be feared, we may say so also of our Union with any common Soul, or many: If we be Unible, we are Partible, and so have a distinct, though not a divided substance, which will have its proper Accidents. All Plants are parts of the Earth, really united to it, and radicated in it, and live, and are nourished by it: And yet a Vine is a Vine, and an Apple is an Apple, and a Rose is a Rose,