A26921:46
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.
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.
Use IV. Be specially thankful, O my Soul, that God hath made any use of thee for the Service of his Church on Earth. My God, my Soul for this doth magnify thee, and my Spirit rejoiceth in the review of thy great undeserved Mercy! O what am I whom thou tookest up from the Dunghill, or low obscurity, that I should live my self in the constant relish of thy Sweet and Sacred Truth, and with such encouraging success communicate it to others? That I must say now my public work seems ended, that these Forty three or Forty four years I have no reason to think that ever I laboured in vain! O with what gratitude ⟨image 15⟩must I look upon all places where I lived and laboured, but above all that place that had my strength. I bless thee for the great numbers gone to Heaven, and for the continuance of Piety, Humiliation, Concord and Peace among them.
Use IV. Be specially thankful, O my Soul, that God hath made any use of thee for the Service of his Church on Earth. My God, my Soul for this doth magnifie thee, and my Spirit rejoiceth in the review of thy great undeserved Mercy! O what am I whom thou took'st up from the Dunghil, or low obscurity, that I should live my self in the constant relish of thy Sweet and Sacred Truth, and with such encoucouraging success communicate it to others? That I must say now my publick work seems ended, that these Forty three or Forty four years I have no reason to think that ever I laboured in vain! O with what gratitude ⟨image 15⟩must I look upon all places where I lived and laboured, but above all that place that had my strength. I bless thee for the great numbers gone to Heaven, and for the continuance of Piety, Humiliation, Concord and Peace among them.
And for all that by my Writings have received any saving Light and Grace. O my God, let not my own Heart be barren while I labour in thy Husbandry, to bring others unto Holy fruit. Let me not be a stranger to the Life and Power of that saving Truth which I have done so much to communicate to others: O let not my own Words and Writings condemn me as void of that Divine and Heavenly Nature, and Life, which I have said so much for to the World.