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

Ans. 1. If you know it, you know all that of it which I have mentioned before: you know it to be a burden and snare: I am sure I know by long experience, that this Flesh hath been a painful lodging to my Soul, and this World as a tumultuous Ocean, or like the uncertain and stormy Region of the Air. And well he deserveth bondage, pain, and enmity, who will love them because he is acquainted with them, and is loth to leave them because he hath had them long, and is afraid of being well, because he hath been long sick.

2. And do you not know the next and better Habitation? Is Faith no knowledge? If you believe God's Promise you know that such a state there is: And you know in general that it is Better than this World: And you know that we shall be in Holiness and Glorious happiness with Christ: And is this no knowledge? 3. And what we know not, Christ, that prepareth and promiseth it, doth know: And is that nothing to us, if really we Trust our Souls to him? He that knoweth not more Good by Heaven than by Earth, is yet so earthly and unbelieving, that it is no wonder if he be afraid and unwilling to depart.

§ 4. II. In Departing from this Body and Life, I must depart from all its ancient Pleasures: I must taste no more sweetness in meat or drink, or rest, or sport, or any such thing that now delighteth me; House and Lands, and Goods and Wealth must all be left; and the place where I live must know me no more. All my possessions must be no more to me, nor all that I laboured for or took delight in than if they had never been at all.