A26921:137
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.
§ 1. III. If the God of Nature have made it every mans certain duty to make it his Chief care and work in this life, to seek for happiness hereafter, then such a happiness ⟨p. 35⟩there is for them that truly seek it. But the antecedent is certain, as I have elsewhere proved. Ergo, &c.
§ 2. As to the antecedent, The world is made up of three sorts of men, as to the belief of future retribution. 1. Such as take it for a certain Truth (such are Christians; Mahometans, and most Heathens.) 2. Such as take it for Uncertain, but most probable or likeliest to be true. 3. Such as take it for Uncertain, but rather think it Untrue. (For as none can be certain that it is false (which indeed is true) so I never yet met with one that would say he was certain it was false.) So that I need not trouble you with the mention of any other party or opinion. But if any should say so; it is easy to prove that he speaketh falsely of himself.
§ 2. As to the antecedent, The world is made up of three sorts of men, as to the belief of future retribution. 1. Such as take it for a certain Truth (such are Christians; Mahometans, and most Heathens.) 2. Such as take it for Uncertain, but most probable or likeliest to be true. 3. Such as take it for Uncertain, but rather think it Untrue. (For as none can be certain that it is false (which indeed is true) so I never yet met with one that would say he was certain it was false.) So that I need not trouble you with the mention of any other party or opinion. But if any should say so; it is easy to prove that he speaketh falsly of himself.
§ 3. And that it is the Duty of all these, but especially of the two former sorts, to make it their Chief care and work to seek for happiness in the life to come, is easily proved thus: Natural reason requireth every man to seek that which is Best for himself with the greatest diligence: But Natural reason saith that a Probability or Possibility of the future everlasting happiness is better and more worthy to be sought, than any thing attainable in this present life (which doth not suppose it.) Ergo, &c.