A26921:329
Richard Baxter's dying thoughts upon Phil. I, 23 written for his own life and…
Richard Baxter's dying thoughts upon Phil. I, 23 written for his own life and the latter times of his corporal pains and weakness.
London: printed by Tho. Snowden for B. Simmons, 1683
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Richard Baxter's Dying Thoughts. › Part 2: II. The Final Reasons.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
§ 2. All Creatures are more or less excellent and glorious, as God is more or less Operative and refulgent in them, and by that Operation communicateth most of himself unto them: Though he be immense and indivisible, his Operations and Communications are not equal: And that is said to be Nearest to Him, which hath most of those Operations on it, and that without the intervenient causality of any second created Cause; and so all those are in their Order Near unto him, as they have Noblest Natures, and fewest intervenient Causes; far am I from presuming to think that I am or shall be the Best and Noblest of God's Creatures, and so that I shall be so near him, as to be under the influx of no second or created Causes; (of which more anon.) But to be as Near as my Nature was ordained to approach, is but to attain the End and Perfection of my Nature.
§ 3. And as I must not look to be the Nearest to Him, as he is the first Efficient, no more must I as he is the first Dirigent or governing Cause: As now I am under the government of his Officers on Earth, I look for ⟨p. 132⟩ever to be under subgovernours in Heaven: My glorified Saviour must be my Lord and Ruler; and Who else under him I know not: If Angels are not equal in Perfection, nor as is commonly supposed equal in Power, nor without some regimental order among themselves, I must not conclude that no created Angel or Spirit, shall have any government over me: But it will be so Pure and Divine, as that the blessed Effects of God's own Government will be sweetly powerful therein. If the Law was given by Angles, and the Angel of God was in the burning Bush, and the Angel conducted the People through the Wilderness, and yet all these things are ascribed to God, much more near and glorious will the Divine Regiment there be, whoever are the Administrators.
§ 3. And as I must not look to be the Nearest to Him, as he is the first Efficient, no more must I as he is the first Dirigent or governing Cause: As now I am under the government of his Officers on Earth, I look for ⟨p. 132⟩