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

§ 8. 6. And that this Spirit is given (not to Hypocrites that abuse Christ, and do not seriously believe him, nor to mere pretending nominal Christians, but) to all that sincerely believe the Gospel, is evident not ⟨p. 51⟩only to themselves in certainty (if they are in a condition to know themselves,) but to others in part by the effects: They have other Ends, other affections, other lives, than the rest of Mankind have; Though their heavenly Nature and Design be the less discerned and honoured in the World, because their chiefest difference is out of the sight of Man, in the Heart, and in their secret actions, and because their imperfections blemish them, and because the Malignant World is by Strangeness and Enmity an incompetent judge, yet it is discernible to others, that they live upon the hopes of a better life, and their heavenly Interest is it that overruleth all the adverse Interests of this World, and that in order thereunto they live under the conduct of Divine Authority, and that God's will is highest and most prevalent with them, and that to obey and please him so far as they know it, is the greatest business of their lives, though ignorance and adverse Flesh, do make their Holiness and Obedience imperfect. The universal noise and opposition of the World against them, doth show that men discern a very great difference, which Error and cross Interests, and Carnal inclinations, render displeasing to those who find themselves condemned by their heavenly Designs and Conversations.

§ 8. 6. And that this Spirit is given (not to Hypocrites that abuse Christ, and do not seriously believe him, nor to meer pretending nominal Christians, but) to all that sincerely believe the Gospel, is evident not ⟨p. 51⟩only to themselves in certainty (if they are in a condition to know themselves,) but to others in part by the effects: They have other Ends, other affections, other lives, than the rest of Mankind have; Though their heavenly Nature and Design be the less discerned and honoured in the World, because their chiefest difference is out of the sight of Man, in the Heart, and in their secret actions, and because their imperfections blemish them, and because the Malignant World is by Strangeness and Enmity an incompetent judge, yet it is discernable to others, that they live upon the hopes of a better life, and their heavenly Interest is it that overruleth all the adverse Interests of this World, and that in order thereunto they live under the conduct of Divine Authority, and that God's will is highest and most prevalent with them, and that to obey and please him so far as they know it, is the greatest business of their lives, though ignorance and adverse Flesh, do make their Holiness and Obedience imperfect. The universal noise and opposition of the World against them, doth shew that men discern a very great difference, which Error and cross Interests, and Carnal inclinations, render displeasing to those who find themselves condemned by their heavenly Designs and Conversations.