A26921:331
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.
§ 4. And as I must expect to be under some created Efficient and Dirigent Causes there, so must I expect to have some subordinate Ends: Else there would not be a proportion and harmony in causalities; whatever nobler Creatures are above me, and have their Causalities upon me, I must look to be finally for those nobler Creatures. When I look up and think what a world of glorious Beings are now over me, I dare not presume to think that I shall finally any more than Receptively; be the Nearest unto God, and that I am made for None but Him. I find here that I am made, and ruled, and sanctified, for the Public or Common Good of many as above my own (of which I am past doubt:) And I am sure that I must be finally for my glorified Redeemer; and for what other Spiritual Beings or Intelligences that are above me, little do I know: And God hath so ordered all his creatures, as that they are mutually Ends and Means for and to one another, though not in an Equality, nor in the same respects. But whatever nearer Ends there will be, I am sure that he who is the first ⟨p. 133⟩Efficient and Dirigent, will be the ultimate final Cause And I shall be in this respect as near him, as is due to he rank and order of my Nature. I shall be useful to he Ends which are answerable to my Perfection.
§ 4. And as I must expect to be under some created Efficient and Dirigent Causes there, so must I expect to have some subordinate Ends: Else there would not be a proportion and harmony in causalities; whatever nobler Creatures are above me, and have their Causalities upon me, I must look to be finally for those nobler Creatures. When I look up and think what a world of glorious Beings are now over me, I dare not presume to think that I shall finally any more than Receptively; be the Nearest unto God, and that I am made for None but Him. I find here that I am made, and ruled, and sanctified, for the Publick or Common Good of many as above my own (of which I am past doubt:) And I am sure that I must be finally for my glorified Redeemer; and for what other Spiritual Beings or Intelligences that are above me, little do I know: And God hath so ordered all his creatures, as that they are mutually Ends and Means for and to one another, though not in an Equality, nor in the same respects. But whatever nearer Ends there will be, I am sure that he who is the first ⟨p. 133⟩Efficient and Dirigent, will be the ultimate final Cause And I shall be in this respect as near him, as is due to he rank and order of my Nature. I shall be useful to he Ends which are answerable to my Perfection.