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

§ 17. 3. And with the holy Angels I shall love holy Souls that are made like unto them and joined with them in the same Society (and it is likely with them Judge, that is, Rule the World.) All their infirmities are there put off with the Flesh; they also are Spirits made up of holy Life, and Light, and Love: There is none of their former ignorance, error, imprudence, selfishness, contentiousness, impatience, or any other troubling hurtful thing. When I think with what fervent love to God, to Jesus Christ, and to one another, they will be perfectly united there, alas, how sad and how shameful is it, that they should here be prone to disaffections and divisions, and hardly agree to call each other the Servants of God, or to worship God in the same Assembli•• ▪ ⟨p. 175⟩But the remnants of dividing Principles (viz. Pride, Error and Uncharitableness) will be all left behind. Society with imperfect Saints is sweet: The imperfect Image of God upon them is amiable: But their frailties here are so vexatious, that it is hard to live with some of them in Peace. But perfect Love will make them one, and O how delightful will that communion of Saints be. I can never forget how sweet God hath made the course of my Pilgrimage, by the fragrancy and usefulness of his Servants graces: How sweet have my bosom Friends been, (though mutable?) How sweet hath the Neighbourhood of the godly been? How sweet have the holy Assemblies? And how many hours of comfort have I there had? How profitable have their Writings, their Conference, and their Prayers been? What then will it be to live in the union of perfect Love with perfect Saints in Heaven for ever, and with them concordantly to love the God of Love?

§ 17. 3. And with the holy Angels I shall love holy Souls that are made like unto them and joined with them in the same Society (and it is likely with them Judge, that is, Rule the World.) All their infirmities are there put off with the Flesh; they also are Spirits made up of holy Life, and Light, and Love: There is none of their former ignorance, errour, imprudence, selfishness, contentiousness, impatience, or any other troubling hurtful thing. When I think with what fervent love to God, to Jesus Christ, and to one another, they will be perfectly united there, alas, how sad and how shameful is it, that they should here be prone to disaffections and divisions, and hardly agree to call each other the Servants of God, or to worship God in the same Assembli