A26921:409
Richard Baxter's dying thoughts upon Phil. I, 23 written for his own life and…
Richard Baxter's dying thoughts upon Phil. I, 23 written for his own life and the latter times of his corporal pains and weakness.
London: printed by Tho. Snowden for B. Simmons, 1683
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Richard Baxter's Dying Thoughts. › Part 4: IV. The Constitutive Reasons from the state of my will.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
§ 18. III. And as the Act and the Object of LOVE will constitute my felicity, so will my Reception from the Love of God, and his Creatures be sweeter to me than my own activity can be: For it is Mutual Love that makes it up. I shall not be the Fountain of my own delights; nor can I act till I am acted, nor offer any thing to God, but what I have first received from him. And Receive I shall abundantly and continually, and from thence shall overflow to God, and Receiving and Returning (are now and) will be, the circular endless motion, and our true perpetual Life and Happiness.
§ 19. I. All my Receivings shall be from God. His LOVE is not a mere Immanent Will, nor a Wish which toucheth not the Object: But it is what Heat is in or ⟨p. 176⟩from the Sun or Fire: It is an efflux of Goodness: It is the most powerful, sweet, communicating Principle or Work. All Love is communicative; but none in comparison of Gods: As there is none primitive and simply good but God. How much doth Love in the affairs of men? All that is pleasant in the World is it, or its effects. Were it not for sensual Love there would be no Generation of Man or Brutes: God hath made it a generating Principle: Hatred causeth not congress, but fighting with or flying from one another: Were it not for Natural Love, Mothers would never endure the pain, and trouble, and care, which is necessary to humane Birth and Education: Were it not for Love, Parents would never labour all their lives to leave their Children well instructed and well provided for when they are gone. My Food would not please me, did I not love it, and I should neglect it to the neglect of my life: Did I not love my Books and Learning itself, I should never have bestowed so much of Threescore Years in poring on them, and searching for Knowledge as I have done: Did I not love my House, my Conveniences and necessaries I should neglect them; and they would be to me of small use: Did I not love my Friends, I should be less profitable to them and they to me: Did not I love my Life, I should neglect it, and never have endured the labour and cost about it as I have done! If a Man love not his Country, Posterity and the common good, he will be as a burdensome Drone in the Hive, or as pernicious Vermin. What is done in the World that is good, but by LOVE?