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

§ 4. The Major is past doubt. Good and Felicity being necessarily desired by the will of man, that which is Best and known so to be, must be Most desired.

And the Minor should be as far past doubt, to men that use not their sense against their reason. For 1. In this life there is nothing certain to be continued one hour. 2. It is certain that all will quickly end; and that the longest life is short. 3. It is certain that time and pleasure past are nothing, properly nothing; And so no better to us than if they had never been. 4. And it is ⟨p. 36⟩certain that while we possess them, they are poor, unsatisfactory things, the pleasure of the flesh being no sweeter to a man than to a beast; And the trouble that accompanieth it much more. Beasts have not the cares, fears and sorrows upon foresight which man hath: They fear not death upon foreknowledge of it, nor fear any misery after death, nor are put upon any labour, sufferings or Trials, to obtain a future happiness, or avoid a future misery: All which considered, he speaketh not by reason, who saith this vain vexatious life is better than the Possibility or Probability of the everlasting Glory.

And the Minor should be as far past doubt, to men that use not their sense against their reason. For 1. In this life there is nothing certain to be continued one hour. 2. It is certain that all will quickly end; and that the longest life is short. 3. It is certain that time and pleasure past are nothing, properly nothing; And so no better to us than if they had never been. 4. And it is ⟨p. 36⟩certain that while we possess them, they are poor, unsatisfactory things, the pleasure of the flesh being no sweeter to a man than to a beast; And the trouble that accompanieth it much more. Beasts have not the cares, fears and sorrows upon foresight which man hath: They fear not death upon foreknowledge of it, nor fear any misery after death, nor are put upon any labour, sufferings or Tryals, to obtain a future happiness, or avoid a future misery: All which considered, he speaketh not by reason, who saith this vain vexatious life is better than the Possibility or Probability of the everlasting Glory.