A26921:491
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. › The Concluding Application.
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. The Spirits of the perfected Just are now in possession of what I hope for! And I am a follower of them who by Faith and Patience have attained the promised Felicity! And may I not trust him to save me who hath already saved Millions in this way? When I could trust a Ferryman to pass me over a River, that had safely passed over Thousands before me: Or I could trust a Physician who cureth all that he undertaketh of the same Disease.
18. The Spirits of the perfected Just are now in possession of what I hope for! And I am a follower of them who by Faith and Patience have attained the promised Felicity! And may I not trust him to save me who hath already saved Millions in this way? When I could trust a Ferriman to pass me over a River, that had safely passed over Thousands before me: Or I could trust a Physician who cureth all that he undertaketh of the same Disease.
19. I must be at his disposal whether I will or not: I shall live while he will, and die when he will, and go whither he will: I may sin and vex my Soul with fears, and cares, and sorrows, but I shall never prevail against his will.
20. Therefore there is no Rest for Souls but in the Will of God: That will created us, and that will did govern us, and that will shall be fulfilled on us. It was our Efficient and our Regent Cause, and it shall be our ⟨p. 222⟩End. Where else is it that we should rest? In the will of men, or Angels, or in our own wills? All Creatures are but Creatures: And our own Wills have undone us: They have misgoverned us, and they are our greatest Enemies; our Disease, our Prison, and our Death, till they are brought over to the will of God: Till then they are like a Foot out of joint; like a Child or Subject in Rebellion! There is no rectitude or health, no order, no peace or true felicity, but in the Conformity of our wills to the will of God. And shall I die in distrustful striving against his will, and desiring to keep up my own before it.