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

§ 7. And as for our Friends and our converse with them, as Relations, or as wise, religious, and faithful to us, he that believeth not that there are far More and far Better in Heaven than are on Earth, doth not believe as he ought that there is a Heaven: Our Friends here are wise, but they are unwise also: They are Faithful, but partly unfaithful; they are holy, but also alas too sinful: They have the Image of God, but blotted and dishonoured by their faults: They do God and his Church much service; but they also do too much against him, and too much for Satan, even when they intend the Honour of God: They promote the the Gospel; but they also hinder it: Their weakness, ignorance, error, selfishness, pride, passion, division, contention, scandals and remissness, do oft so much hurt, that it is hard to discern whether it be not greater than their good to the Church or to their Neighbours. Our Friends are our helpers and comforters; but how oft also are they our hinderers, troubles and grief? But in Heaven they are altogether wise, and holy, and faithful and concordant, and have nothing in them, nor there done by them, but what is amiable to God and Man.

§ 7. And as for our Friends and our converse with them, as Relations, or as wise, religious, and faithful to us, he that believeth not that there are far More and far Better in Heaven than are on Earth, doth not believe as he ought that there is a Heaven: Our Friends here are wise, but they are unwise also: They are Faithful, but partly unfaithful; they are holy, but also alas too sinful: They have the Image of God, but blotted and dishonoured by their faults: They do God and his Church much service; but they also do too much against him, and too much for Satan, even when they intend the Honour of God: They promote the the Gospel; but they also hinder it: Their weakness, ignorance, errour, selfishness, pride, passion, division, contention, scandals and remisness, do oft so much hurt, that it is hard to discern whether it be not greater than their good to the Church or to their Neigbours. Our Friends are our helpers and comforters; but how oft also are they our hinderers, troubles and grief? But in Heaven they are altogether wise, and holy, and faithful and concordant, and have nothing in them, nor there done by them, but what is amiable to God and Man.