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

VI. In that World of Light I shall better understand God's present and past works of Providence, by which he ordereth the matters of this World: The Wisdom and Goodness of them is little understood in little parcels; It is the union and harmony of all the parts which showeth the beauty of them; when the single Parcels seem deformed, or are not understood. And no one can see the whole together but God, and they that see it in the light of his Celestial Glory: It is a prospect of that End, by which we have here any true understanding of such Parcels as we see. Then I shall know clearly why (or to what use) God prospered the wicked, and tried the Righteous by so many afflictions? I shall know why he set up the ungodly, and put the humble under their Feet: Why he permitted so much ignorance, ⟨p. 158⟩ungodliness, pride, lust, oppression, persecution, falsehood, deceit, and other sins in the World: I shall know why the faithful are so few: And why so many Kingdoms of the World, are left in Heathenism, Mohammedanism and Infidelity. The strange permissions which now so puzzle me, and are the matter of my astonishment, shall all be then as clear as day: I shall know why God disposed of me as he did through all my life; and why I suffered what I did; and how many great deliverances I had, which I understood not here; and how they were accomplished. All our misinterpretations of God's works and permissions, will be then rectified: And all our Controversies about them, which Satan hath made so great advantage of (by a pretended zeal for some Truths of God) will then be reconciled, and at an end: And all the works of Divine Providence from the beginning of the World, will then appear, a most delectable beauteous frame.

VI. In that World of Light I shall better understand God's present and past works of Providence, by which he ordereth the matters of this World: The Wisdom and Goodness of them is little understood in little parcels; It is the union and harmony of all the parts which sheweth the beauty of them; when the single Parcels seem deformed, or are not understood. And no one can see the whole together but God, and they that see it in the light of his Celestial Glory: It is a prospect of that End, by which we have here any true understanding of such Parcels as we see. Then I shall know clearly why (or to what use) God prospered the wicked, and tryed the Righteous by so many afflictions? I shall know why he set up the ungodly, and put the humble under their Feet: Why he permitted so much ignorance, ⟨p. 158⟩