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

How wonderful is it that I should so long dwell in so much peace, in the midst of those that seemed to want neither Power nor Skill, and much less Will, to tread me down into contempt and misery? And O how many a danger, fear and pain hath he delivered this frail and languishing Body from? How oft hath he succoured me, when Flesh, and Heart, and Art have failed? He hath cured my consuming Coughs, and many a time stayed my flowing Blood; he hath eased my pained Limbs, and supported a weary macerated Skeleton: He hath fetched me up from the Jaws of Death, and reversed the Sentence which men have passed on me: How many Thousand weary days have been sweetened with his pleasant work? And how many Thousand painful weary Nights have had a comfortable Morning? How many Thousand strong and healthful Persons have been taken away by Death, whilst I have been upheld under all this weakness? Many a time have I cried to the Lord in my trouble and he hath delivered me out of my distress? I have had Forty years added to my Days, since I would have been full glad of Hezekiah's promise of Fifteen? Since the day that I first preached his Gospel, I expected not of long time to live above a Year; and I have lived since then Forty years; when my own ⟨p. 227⟩Prayers were cold and unbelieving how many Hundreds have prayed for me: And what strange deliverances, encouraging Fasting and Prayer have I oft had, upon their importunate requests? My Friends have been faithful, and the few that proved unfaithful have profitably taught me, to place no confidence in Man, and and not to be inordinately affected to any thing on Earth; for I was forsaken by none of them, but those few that I excessively valued and overloved: My Relations have been comfortable to me, contrary to my deserts, and much beyond my expectations: My Servants have been faithful: My Neighbours have been kind: My Enemies have been impotent, harmless or profitable: My Superiors have honoured me by their respectful words, and while they have afflicted me, as supposing me a remora to their designs, they have not destroyed, but protected me! To my inferiors God hath made me in my low capacity somewhat helpful? I have been protected in ordinary health and safety, when the raging Pestilence came near my Habitation, and consumed an Hundred thousand Citizens!

How wonderful is it that I should so long dwell in so much peace, in the midst of those that seemed to want neither Power nor Skill, and much less Will, to tread me down into contempt and misery? And O how many a danger, fear and pain hath he delivered this frail and languishing Body from? How oft hath he succoured me, when Flesh, and Heart, and Art have failed? He hath cured my consuming Coughs, and many a time stayed my flowing Blood; he hath eased my pained Limbs, and support'd a weary macerat'd Skeleton: He hath fetcht me up from the Jaws of Death, and reversed the Sentence which men have passed on me: How many Thousand weary days have been sweetned with his pleasant work? And how many Thousand painful weary Nights have had a comfortable Morning? How many Thousand strong and healthful Persons have been taken away by Death, whilst I have been upheld under all this weakness? Many a time have I cryed to the Lord in my trouble and he hath delivered me out of my distress? I have had Forty years added to my Daies, since I would have been full glad of Hezekiah's promise of Fifteen? Since the day that I first preached his Gospel, I expected not of long time to live above a Year; and I have lived since then Forty years; when my own