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

Good Princes, Magistrates and public Spirited men that promote the safety, Peace and true Prosperity of the Common-wealth, do thereby very much befriend ⟨image 14⟩Religion, and mens Salvation; and are greatly to be loved and honoured by all. If the Civil State called the Common-wealth, do miscarry or fall into ruin and calamity, the Church will fare the worse for it, as the Soul doth by the ruins of the Body. The Turkish, Muscovite, and such other Empires tell us, how the Church consumeth and dwindles away into contempt or withered Ceremony and Formality, where Tyranny brings Slavery, Beggary, or long Persecution on the Subjects. Doubtless divers passages in the Revelations contain the Churches glorifying of God, for their Power and Prosperity on Earth, when Emperors became Christians: What else can be meant well by Rev. 9. 10. [Hath made us Kings and Priests to God, and we shall Reign on the Earth;] but that Christians shall be brought from under Heathen Persecution, and have Rule and Sacred Honour in the World, some of them being Princes, some honoured Church Guides, and all a peculiar honoured People. And had not Satan found out that cursed way of getting wicked men that hate true godliness and peace, into the Sacred places of Princes and Pastors, to do his work against Christ as in Christ's Name, surely no good Christians would have grudged at the Power of Rulers of State or Church: Sure I am that many called Fifth Monarchy men, seem to make this their great Hope that Rule shall be in the Hands of Righteous men: And I think most Religious Parties would rejoice if those had very great Power, whom they take to be the best and trustiest men: Which shows that it is not the greatness of Power in most Princes, or sound Bishops that they dislike, but the badness (real or supposed) of those whose Power they mislike: Who will blame Power to do good.

Good Princes, Magistrates and publick Spirited men that promote the safety, Peace and true Prosperity of the Common-wealth, do thereby very much befriend ⟨image 14⟩Religion, and mens Salvation; and are greatly to be loved and honoured by all. If the Civil State called the Common-wealth, do miscarry or fall into ruine and calamity, the Church will fare the worse for it, as the Soul doth by the ruines of the Body. The Turkish, Muscovite, and such other Empires tell us, how the Church consumeth and dwindles away into contempt or withered Ceremony and Formality, where Tyranny brings Slavery, Beggary, or long Persecution on the Subjects. Doubtless divers passages in the Revelations contain the Churches glorifying of God, for their Power and Prosperity on Earth, when Emperors became Christians: What else can be meant well by