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

§ 21. And certainly if I be with Christ, I shall be with all that are with Christ: Even with all the heavenly Society: Though these Bodies of gross passive Matter must have so much room, that the Earth is little enough for all its Inhabitants; and those at the Antipodes are almost as strange to us, as if they were in another World, and those of another Kingdom, another Province or County, and oft another Parish, yea another House, are Strangers to us; so narrow is our Capacity of Communion here. Yet w• •ave great cause to think by many Scripture expressions, that our heavenly Union and Communion will be nearer and more extensive; and that all the Glorified shall know each other, or at least be far less distant, and less strange, than now we are. As I said before, when I see, how far the Sun ⟨p. 76⟩beams do extend, how they penetrate our closest Glass, and puzzle them that say that all Bodies are impenetrable; when I see how little they hinder the placing or presence of other Creatures, and how intimately they mix themselves with all; and seem to possess the whole Region of the Air, when yet the Air seemeth it self to fill it, &c. I dare not think that glorified Spirits, (no nor Spiritual Bodies) will be such Strangers to one another as we are here on Earth.

§ 22. And I must needs say that it is a pleasant Thought to me, and greatly helpeth my willingness to die, to think that I shall go to all the Holy ones, both Christ and Angels, and departed blessed Souls. For 1. God hath convinced me, that they are better than I, (each singly) and therefore more amiable than my self: 2. And that many are better than one, and the whole than a poor sinful part, and the New Jerusalem is the Glory of the Creation. 3. God hath given me a Love to all his Holy Ones as such. 4. And a Love to the work of Love and Praise which they continually and perfectly perform to God. 5. And a Love to the Celestial Jerusalem as it is complete, and to his Glory shining in them. 6. And my old acquaintance with many a holy Person▪ gone to Christ, doth make my Thoughts of Heaven the more familiar to me. O how many of them could I name. 7. And it is no small encouragement to one that is to enter upon an unseen World, to think that he goeth not an trodden Path, nor enters into a solitary or singular state; but followeth all from the Creation to this day, that have passed by death to endless life. And is it not an emboldening consideration to think that I am to go no other way nor to no other place or state, than all the Believers and Saints have gone to before me, from the beginning to this time. (Of this more anon.)