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

§ 11. 3. That sure is Best for me, for which God's Holy Spirit is preparing me: That for which he is given to believers: And that which is the End of all his holy Operations on my Soul. But it is not to Love this World that he is persuading me from Day to Day; but to come off from such Love, and to set my Heart on the things above. Is it to love this life and fleshly interest, this Vanity and Vexation, or rather to love the invisible Perfection, that this blessed Spirit hath done so much to work my Heart? And would I now undo all, or Cross and frustrate all his Operations? Hath Grace been so long preparing me for Glory, and shall I be loath to take possession of it? If I am not willing I am not yet sufficiently prepared?

§ 12. 4. If Heaven be not better for me than Earth, God's Word and Ordinances have been all in vain? Surely that is my Best, which is the Gift of the Better Covenant, and which is secured to me by so many sealed Promises, and which I am directed to by so many sacred ⟨p. 127⟩Precepts, Doctrines, and Examples; and for which I have been called to hear, and read, and meditate, and pray, and Watch so long: Was it the interest of the Flesh on Earth, or a longer life of worldly Prosperity, which the Gospel Covenant secured to me; which the Sacraments and Spirit Sealed to me: Which the Bible was written to direct me to, which Ministers preached to me: Which my Books were written for: Which I prayed for, and for which I served God: Or was it not for his Grace on Earth, and Glory in Heaven: And is it not better for me to have the End of all these means, than lose them all, and lose my hopes: Why have I used them, if I would not attain their End?

§ 13. 5. That is my Best state, which all the Course of God's Fatherly Providences tend to: All his sweeter Mercies, and all his sharper corrections are to make me partaker of his Holiness, and to Lead me to glory in the way that my Saviour and all his Saints have gone before me: All things work together for the best to me, by preparing me for that which is best indeed. Both calms and storms are to bring me to this Harbour: If I take them but for themselves, and this present life, I mistake them, and understand them not, but unthankfully vilify them, and lose their End, and life and sweetness: Every word and work of God, every Days mercies, and changes, and Usages, do look at Heaven, and intend Eternity: God leadeth me no other way: If I follow him not, I forsake my hope in forsaking him: If I follow him, shall I be unwilling to be at home, and come to the End of all this way?