A26921:21
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.
It was a happy state into which Grace had brought this Apostle, who saw so much not only tolerable but greatly desirable, both in living and dying. To live to him was Christ, that is, Christ's interest, or work: To die would be gain, that is, His own interest and reward: His strait was not whether it would be good ⟨image 11⟩to live or good to depart: Both were good: But which was more desirable was the doubt.
It was a happy state into which Grace had brought this Apostle, who saw so much not only tolerable but greatly desirable, both in living and dying. To live to him was Christ, that is, Christ's interest, or work: To die would be gain, that is, His own interest and reward: His streight was not whether it would be good ⟨image 11⟩to live or good to depart: Both were good: But which was more desirable was the doubt.
I. Quest. But was there any doubt to be made between Christ's interest and his own? Ans. No, if it had been a full and fixed competition: But by Christ or Christ's interest, he meaneth his work for his Churches interest in this World: But he knew that Christ also had an interest in his Saints above; and that he could raise up more to serve him here: Yet because he was to judge by what appeared, and he saw a defect of such on Earth, this did turn the Scales in his Choice; and for the work of of Christ and his Churches good, he more inclined to the delay of his reward, by self-denial: Yet knowing that the delay would tend to its increase. It's useful to me here to note:
That even in this World, short of Death, there is some good so much to be regarded, as may justly prevail with Believers to prefer it before the present hastening of their reward.