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

§ 10. 2. He is willing to be loved by me: He disdaineth not my Love: He might have refused to be embraced by such affections, as have so oft and sinfully polluted themselves by embracing vanity and filth: As Persons of state and stately cleanliness will not be touched by filthy hands; much less let Dogs or dirty Swine leap on them which come from wallowing in the mire: God might have driven me away from the happiness of loving him; and have denied me the leave for so high a work: But he commandeth my Love, and maketh it my greatest duty: He inviteth and entreateth me, as if he were a gainer by my happiness: He seeketh to me to seek to him, and as he is the first, so is he the most earnest suitor: He is far readier to receive my Love, than I am to give it him. All the compassionate invitations which I have had from him here, by his Word and Mercies, assure me that he will there receive me readily; he that so valued my poor cold imperfect love to him on Earth, will not reject my perfect love in Heaven: He that made it the great work of his Spirit to Effect it, will not refuse it when it is made perfect by himself.

§ 10. 2. He is willing to be loved by me: He disdaineth not my Love: He might have refused to be embraced by such affections, as have so oft and sinfully polluted themselves by embracing vanity and filth: As Persons of state and stately cleanliness will not be touched by filthy hands; much less let Dogs or dirty Swine leap on them which come from wallowing in the mire: God might have driven me away from the happiness of loving him; and have denyed me the leave for so high a work: But he commandeth my Love, and maketh it my greatest duty: He inviteth and intreateth me, as if he were a gainer by my happiness: He seeketh to me to seek to him, and as he is the first, so is he the most earnest suiter: He is far readier to receive my Love, than I am to give it him. All the compassionate invitations which I have had from him here, by his Word and Mercies, assure me that he will there receive me readily; he that so valued my poor cold imperfect love to him on Earth, will not reject my perfect love in Heaven: He that made it the great work of his Spirit to Effect it, will not refuse it when it is made perfect by himself.

§ 11. 3. And he is near to me, and not a distant God out of my reach, and so unsuitable to my Love: Blind Unbelievers may dream that he is far off; but he is as near us even now, as we are to our selves: He is not far from any of us, for in him we live, and move, and