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

§ 4. II. And seeing my will shall be the same with the will of God, it followeth that it shall never be frustrate, but I shall have all whatsoever I would have, and shall be and do whatsoever I would be and do? For I shall desire nothing but what God willeth; and God's will shall certainly be done: I shall have as much Love and Joy as I would have: I shall be as happy as I would be: I shall desire nothing for others but it shall be done: Indeed if God's will were there unknown to me, I might ignorantly go against it, as I do here: But there before I will or desire any thing, I shall know whether it be God's will or not: So that I shall never wish any ⟨p. 167⟩thing, which shall not be accomplished: An I as it is God's Perfection to have his will alway done (though all his Laws be not obeyed,) so my Perfection shall consist in this likeness unto God, that my will shall be still fulfilled. And then Christ's promises will be perfectly performed, Whatsoever ye ask the Father in my Name he will give it you, Joh. 15. 16. &. 16. 2••. &. 14. 13, 14. & 15. 7. Ye shall ask what you will, and it shall be done unto you: While their will was the same with the will of Christ: But he saith not that it shall all be given us here: we ask for Perfection, and we shall have it, but not here.

§ 5. III. Yea my will it self shall be my Fruition: For it shall not be the will of one in need; a desire of what I want; for I shall want nothing: Therefore it is said that we shall Thirst no more: But it will be a Complacency in what I do possess: And in this also my perfection will be the Image of God's perfection: Not but that all Creatures still Receive from God, and in that sense may be said to need, in that they have nothing of themselves, but all by gift and communication from him: But being still and full possessors they cannot properly be said to want▪ Complacency in that which we possess is Love and Pleasure in one act: And indeed Pleasure and Love are the same thing: To Love any thing is to have that thing to be Pleasing to my mind. Even when it is wanted, it is thought on a pleasing thing, and therefore desired; so that the desiring act of the Will is but a second act occasioned by want, and following the first act, which is Complacency or simple Love. I desire it because I love it. Rightly therefore is the Will itself called LOVE; for in the first act, Love, Will, and Rational Appetite are all words of the same signification. My will therefore must needs be perpetually full of perfect JOY, when enjoying Love and Pleasure