A26921:170
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.
§ 3. From both these I gather, 1. that there are Individual Inhabitants of the Invisible World, and that Spirits have their numerical differences, whatever Unity is among them: and therefore we have reason to judge the same of separated Souls. 2. That our Souls are designed to future happiness or misery; which is implied in the foresaid contracts and endeavours of Devils for our ruin: 3. That Faith and Holiness are the way of Life, and Unbelief and Sin the way to misery; which also is in these implied.
§ 3. From both these I gather, 1. that there are Individual Inhabitants of the Invisible World, and that Spirits have their numerical differences, whatever Unity is among them: and therefore we have reason to judge the same of separated Souls. 2. That our Souls are designed to future happiness or misery; which is implied in the foresaid contracts and endeavours of Devils for our ruine: 3. That Faith and Holiness are the way of Life, and Unbelief and Sin the way to misery; which also is in these implied.
§ 3. 3. And I have both read and partly seen convincing evidence, that there is such an exercise of diabolical power, as we commonly call Possession: Whether all or most mad men are under such a Power as some think, I determine not: But that some are under it is evident: The motions of the Body, which I have seen, seem beyond Man's Natural power: The telling of secrets and things absent, the speaking Languages never learnt, the vomiting of Nails, Glass, Hairs, &c. and other such effects, which the most learned, sober, impartial Physicians profess to have seen, are credible Testimonies.
§4. 4. And I have felt, and heard, and known from others, of such a sort of Temptations, as show themselves to be the acts of malicious Spirits, Enemies to Mankind. The advantages that Satan taketh of a corrupted Fantasy, which hath once taken in such an Image as may be his matter to Work upon, is very remarkable. I have known a worthy, learned, Pious Person,