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

Should I not love a Lovely and a Loving World much better than a World where there is comparatively […] little Loveliness or Love? All that is of God is Good and Lovely: But it is not here that his Glory shineth in felicitating Splendour: I am taught to look upward when I pray, and to say, Our Father which art in Heaven: God's works are amiable even in Hell; and yet though I would know them, I would not be there: ⟨p. 240⟩And, alas, how much of the works of Man, are mixed here with the works of God? Here is God's Wisdom manifest; but here is Man's obstinate folly: Here is God's Government; but here is Mans Tyranny and Unruliness: Here is God's Love and Mercies; but here are m•ns Malice, Wrath and Cruelty, by which they are worse to one another than Wolves or Tigers, depopulating Countries, and filling the World with Bloodshed, Famine, Misery, and Lamentations; proud Tyrants being worse than raging Plagues; (which made David choose the Pestilence before his Enemies pursuit:) Here is much of God's beauteous order, and harmony: But here is also much of Man's madness, deformity and confusion. Here is much historical Truth, and some Civil and Ecclesiastic Justice; but, alas, with how much odious falsehood, and injustice is it mixed? Here is much precious Theological Verity: But how dark is much of it to such blind and negligent and corrupted minds, as every where abound: Here are wise judicious Teachers and Companions to be found; but, alas, how few in comparison of the most? And how hardly known by those that need them? Here are Sound and Orthodox Ministers of Christ: But how few that most need them know which are they, and how to value them or use them? And how many Thousands of seduced or sensual Sinners are made believe that they are but Deceivers, or as they called Paul, pestilent fellows, and movers of Sedition among the People: And in how many parts of the World are they as the Prophets that Obadiah hid in Caves, or as Micatah, or Elijah among the Lying Prophets, or the Baalites? Though such as of whom the World is not worthy. (And is that World then more worthy of any love than Heaven?) There ⟨p. 241⟩are Worthy and Religious Families which honour God, and are honoured by him: But, alas, how few?

Should I not love a Lovely and a Loving World much better than a World where there is comparatively 〈…〉 little Loveliness or Love? All that is of God is Good and Lovely: But it is not here that his Glory shineth in felicitating Splendor: I am taught to look upward when I pray, and to say, Our Father which art in Heaven: God's works are amiable even in Hell; and yet though I would know them, I would not be there: