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

§ 12. And now O weak and fearful Soul! Why shouldst ⟨p. 54⟩thou draw back, as if the case were yet left doubtful? Is not thy Foundation firm? Is not the way of Life, through the Valley of Death, made safe by him that conquered Death? Art thou not yet delivered from the Bondage of thy fears, when the Jailer and Executioner who had the power of Death, hath by Christ been put out of his power as to thee? Is not all this Evidence true and sure? Hast thou not the Witness in thy self? Hast thou not found the motions, the effectual Operations, the renewing changes of this Spirit in thee long ago; and is he not still the Agent and Witness of Christ, residing and Operating in thee? Whence else are thy groanings after God? Thy desires to be nearer to his glory? To know him better? To Love him more? Whence came all the pleasure thou hast had in his Sacred Truth, and Ways, and Service? Who else overcame thy Folly, and Pride, and vain desires, so far as they are overcome? Who made it thy choice to sit at the Feet of Christ, and hear his Word, as the better part, and to despise the Honours, and Preferments of the World, and to account them all as Dung and Dross? Who breathed in thee all those Requests that thou hast sent up to God? Overvalue not corrupted Nature; it bringeth not forth such Fruits as these: If thou doubt of that, remember what thou wast in the Hour of Temptation; even of poor and weak Temptations: And how small a matter hath drawn thee to sin, when God did but leave thee to thy self: Forget not the Days of youthful Vanity: Over-look not the case of the miserable World? Even of thy sinful Neighbours, who in the midst of Light still live in darkness? And hear not the loudest Calls of God? Look about on Thousands that in the same Land, and under the same teaching, and after the greatest judgments and deliverance, run on ⟨p. 55⟩to all excess of riot, and as past feeling are greedily vicious and unclean: Is it no work of Christ's Spirit that hath made thee to differ? Thou hast nothing to boast of, and much to be humbled for; but thou hast also much to be thankful for. Thy Holy desires are alas, too weak: but they are Holy: Thy Love hath been too cold: but it is Holiness, and the Most Holy God that thou hast loved: Thy Hopes in God have been too low: but it is God thou hast hoped in, and his Love and Glory that thou hast hoped for:

§ 12. And now O weak and fearful Soul! Why shouldst