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

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 ⟨p. 88⟩& Ingeniosi in these times, who have little the more Wit or Virtue to Live to God, or overcome Temptations from the Flesh and World, and to secure their everlasting Hopes: What pleasure or quiet doth it give to a dying Man, to know almost any of their Trifles.

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 knowledg 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 Rusticks 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 Physicks, Mathematicks, &c. Which have given some the Title of Virtuosi