A26921:415
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.
My sinful Heart hath needed sorrow! My careless, rash, presumptuous Soul hath needed fears; and I have had some part of these: Mercy saw it good for me, as necessary to prevent my more dangerous deceits and lapses! And O that in the hour of sensual temptations, I had feared more, and departed from evil. But it is HOLY LOVE that must be my life! Or else I am dead notwithstanding fear.
O come then and study the life of Love: It is more of a Holy Nature than of Art; but yet study must do much to prepare thee to receive it. This is the great use of a heavenly Conversation! It is the contemplation, belief and hope of the glorious state of Love hereafter, that must make us like it, and kindle it in us here: The burning Glass must be turned directly to the Sun, if you will have it set any thing on fire. There is a carnal or common love to God, which is kindled in men by carnal pleasures: But a Holy love like that in Heaven must be studiously fetched from Heaven, and kindled by the fore sight of what is there, & what we shall be there for ever: Faith must ascend, and look within the veil; thou must not live as a stranger to thy home, to thy God, and Saviour, and thy hopes: The fire that must warm thee is in Heaven, and thou must come near it, or open thy self to its influence, if thou wilt feel its powerful efficacy. It is night and winter with carnal minds, when it is day and summer with those that set their Faces Heavenward.
O come then and study the life of Love: It is more of a Holy Nature than of Art; but yet study must do much to prepare thee to receive it. This is the great use of a heavenly Conversation! It is the contemplation, belief and hope of the glorious state of Love hereafter, that must make us like it, and kindle it in us here: The burning Glass must be turned directly to the Sun, if you will have it set any thing on fire. There is a carnal or common love to God, which is kindled in men by carnal pleasures: But a Holy love like that in Heaven must be studiously fetcht from Heaven, and kindled by the fore sight of what is there, & what we shall be there for ever: Faith must ascend, and look within the vail; thou must not live as a stranger to thy home, to thy God, and Saviour, and thy hopes: The fire that must warm thee is in Heaven, and thou must come near it, or open thy self to its influence, if thou wilt feel its powerful efficacy. It is night and winter with carnal minds, when it is day and summer with those that set their Faces Heavenward.