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

§ 5. III. When I die, I must depart not only from sensual delights, but from the more manly Pleasures of my Studies, knowledge and converse with many wise and godly men, and from all my pleasure in Reading, Hearing, public and private Exercises of Religion, &c. I must leave my Library, and turn over those pleasant Books no more: I must no more come among the Living, nor see the faces of my faithful Friends, nor be seen of Man, Houses and Cities and Fields: and Countries, Gardens and Walks, will be nothing as to me. I shall no more hear of the Affairs of the World, of Man or Wars, or other News, nor see what becomes of that beloved Interest of Wisdom, Piety, and Peace, which I desire may prosper, &c.

§ 5. III. When I die, I must depart not only from sensual delights, but from the more manly Pleasures of my Studies, knowledge and converse with many wise and godly men, and from all my pleasure in Reading, Hearing, publick and private Exercises of Religion, &c. I must leave my Library, and turn over those pleasant Books no more: I must no more come among the Living, nor see the faces of my faithful Friends, nor be seen of Man, Houses and Cities and Fields: and Countreys, Gardens and Walks, will be nothing as to me. I shall no more hear of the Affairs of the World, of Man or Wars, or other News, nor see what becomes of that beloved Interest of Wisdom, Piety, and Peace, which I desire may prosper, &c.

Answ. 1. Though these delights are far above those of sensual S••ners, yet alas, how low and little are they? How small is our knowledge in comparison of our Ignorance? And how little doth the knowledge of Learned Doctors differ from the thoughts of a silly Child? For from our Childhood we take it in but by drops; and as trifles are the Matter of childish knowledge, so Words, and Notions, and artificial Forms do make up more of the Learning of the World, than is commonly understood; and many such Learned men know little more of any Great and excellent Things themselves, than Rustics that are contemned by them for their ignorance. God and the Life to come are little better known by them, if not much less, than by many of the unlearned. What is it but a Child-game that many Logicians, Rhetoricians, Grammarians, yea Metaphysicians, and other Philosophers in their eagerest Studies and Disputes are exercised in? Of how little use is it to know what is contained in many Hundred of the Volumes that fill our Libraries? Yea, or to know many of the most glorious Speculations in Physics, Mathematics, &c. Which have given some the Title of Virtuosi