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

And that I shall know the Spirits of the perfected Just, and be of their communion, will be no small addition to my joy. How sweet hath one wise and holy (though weak and blemished) companion been to me ⟨p. 156⟩here on Earth? And how lovely have God's Graces in such (though smutted) appeared to me. O then what a sight will it be when we shall see the Millions of Souls that shine in perfect Wisdom and Holiness with Christ: To see a Garden that hath some beautiful Flowers in it, is something: But if you saw whole Fields and Countries shining with them, it would be a glory (though fading) to the Earth. A well built City is a pleasanter sight, than a single House; and a Navy than a Ship; and an Army than one Man: And if this poor low World did all consist of Wise, and Just, and Holy Persons, O what an orderly, lovely World would it be! If one Kingdom consisted (Prince, Magistrates, Pastors, and People) all of such, what a blessed Kingdom would that be: The plague of wicked mens deceits, and falsehoods, oppressions and iniquities, may help to make us sensible of this: It would be a great temptation to us to be loth to die, and leave such a Country, were it not that the more the beauty of goodness appeareth, the more the state of Perfection is desired: It is pleasant to me to pray in hope as Christ hath commanded me, that Earth may be made liker unto Heaven, which now is become so like to Hell: But when I shall see the Society perfected, in Number, in Holiness, in Glory, in heavenly Employment, the joyful Praises of Jehovah, the Glory of God and the Lamb shining on them, and God rejoicing over them as his delight, and my self partaking of the same, that will be the truly blessed day! And why doth my Soul imprisoned in Flesh no more desire it?

And that I shall know the Spirits of the perfected Just, and be of their communion, will be no small addition to my joy. How sweet hath one wise and holy (though weak and blemished) companion been to me ⟨p. 156⟩here on Earth? And how lovely have God's Graces in such (though smutted) appeared to me. O then what a sight will it be when we shall see the Millions of Souls that shine in perfect Wisdom and Holiness with Christ: To see a Garden that hath some beautiful Flowers in it, is somthing: But if you saw whole Fields and Countries shining with them, it would be a glory (though fading) to the Earth. A well built City is a pleasanter sight, than a single House; and a Navy than a Ship; and an Army than one Man: And if this poor low World did all consist of Wise, and Just, and Holy Persons, O what an orderly, lovely World would it be! If one Kingdom consisted (Prince, Magistrates, Pastors, and People) all of such, what a blessed Kingdom would that be: The plague of wicked mens deceits, and falshoods, oppressions and iniquities, may help to make us sensible of this: It would be a great temptation to us to be loth to die, and leave such a Countrey, were it not that the more the beauty of goodness appeareth, the more the state of Perfection is desired: It is pleasant to me to pray in hope as Christ hath commanded me, that Earth may be made liker unto Heaven, which now is become so like to Hell: But when I shall see the Society perfected, in Number, in Holiness, in Glory, in heavenly Employment, the joyful Praises of Jehovah, the Glory of God and the Lamb shining on them, and God rejoicing over them as his delight, and my self partaking of the same, that will be the truly blessed day! And why doth my Soul imprisoned in Flesh no more desire it?