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

§ 2. 1. If it be a Change of greatest Benefit to Man. 2. And if Heaven be the very Sum and End of it. 3. And if it overcome all fleshly worldly Opposition. 4. And can be wrought by none but God. 5. And was before promised by Jesus Christ to all sound believers. 6. And is universally wrought in them all, either only, or eminently above all others. 7. And was promised them, as a Pledge and Earnest of Glory; then it can be no less than such a Pledge and Earnest. But the former are all true, &c.

§ 2. 1. If it be a Change of greatest Benefit to Man. 2. And if Heaven be the very Summ and End of it. 3. And if it overcome all fleshly worldly Opposition. 4. And can be wrought by none but God. 5. And was before promised by Jesus Christ to all sound believers. 6. And is universally wrought in them all, either only, or eminently above all others. 7. And was promised them, as a Pledge and Earnest of Glory; then it can be no less than such a Pledge and Earnest. But the former are all true, &c.

§ 3. 1. That the Change is of grand importance unto Man appeareth in that it is the Renovation of his Mind, and Will, and Life: It repaireth his depraved faculties: ⟨p. 48⟩It causeth Man to live as Man, who is degenerated to a life too like to Brutes: By God's permitting many to live in Blindness, Wickedness, and Confusion, and to be tormentors of themselves and one another, by Temptations, Injuries, Wars, and Cruelty, we the fuller see what it is that Grace doth save men from, and what a difference it maketh in the World. Those that have lived unholily in their youth, do easily find the difference in themselves when they are renewed: But to them that have been piously inclined from their Childhood, it is harder to discern the difference, unless they mark the Case of others. If Man be worth any thing, it is for the use that his Faculties were made: And if he be not good for the Knowledge, Love and Service of his Creator, what is he good for? And certainly the generality of ungodly Worldlings: are undisposed to all such works as this, till the Spirit of Christ effectually change them. Men are Slaves to sin till Christ thus make them free,