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

How many are gone to Heaven, and how many are in the way, to whom he hath blessed the Word which in weakness I did by his Grace and Providence deliver? Many good Christians are glad of now and then an Hours time, to meditate on God's Word, and recreate themselves in his holy worship; but God hath allowed and called me, to make it the constant business of my life. My Library hath afforded me both profitable and pleasant company and help, at all times, when ever I would use them. I have dwelt among the shining ⟨p. 224⟩Lights, which the Learned, Wise, and Holy men of all Ages have set up, and left to illuminate the World. How many comfortable Hours have I had in the Society of living Saints, and in the love of faithful Friends? How many joyful Days have I had in the solemn Assemblies, where God hath been worshipped with seriousness and alacrity, by concordant though imperfect Saints. Where the Spirit of Christ hath manifested his presence, by helping my self and my Brethren in speaking, and the People in ready delightful hearing, and all of us in loving and gladly receiving his Doctrine, Covenant and Laws? How unworthy was such a sinful Worm as I (who never had any Academical helps, nor much from the Mouth of any Teacher) that Books should become so great a Blessing to me, and that quite beyond my own intentions, God should induce or constrain me to provide any such like helps for others? How unworthy was I to be kept from the multiplied snares of Sects and Errors which reigned in this Age, and to be used as a means for other mens preservation and reduction: And to be kept in a love of Unity and Peace: How unworthy was I that God should make known to me so much of his reconciling truth, while extremes did round about prevail, and were commended to the Churches by the advantages of Piety on one side, and of worldly Prosperity and Power on the other? And the God should use me above thirty Years in so comfortable a work as to plead and write for Love, Peace and Concord, and to vouchsafe me so much success therein as he hath done, notwithstanding the general prevalency of the contentious military Tribe. Mercy I have had in Peace, and Liberty in times of Violence: And Mercy I have had in Wars, living two years in safety in a City of defence in the very midst of the Land, (Coventry,) and seeing ⟨p. 225⟩no enemy while the Kingdom was in Wars and Flames;

How many are gone to Heaven, and how many are in the way, to whom he hath blessed the Word which in weakness I did by his Grace and Providence deliver? Many good Christians are glad of now and then an Hours time, to meditate on God's Word, and recreate themselves in his holy worship; but God hath allowed and called me, to make it the constant business of my life. My Library hath afforded me both profitable and pleasant company and help, at all times, when ever I would use them. I have dwelt among the shining