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

God's Infinite Essential SELF-LOVE, in which he is Eternally delighted in himself, is the most Amiable Object, and Heaven itself to Saints and Angels: And next to that His Love to all his Works, to the World, and to the Church in Heaven speaketh much more of his Loveliness than his Love to me. But yet due Self-love in me, is his work, and part of his natural Image; and when this by sin is grown up to excess, (through the withdrawing of a contracted narrow Soul, from the Union and due Love to my fellow Creatures, and to God) I must also, I cannot but, enquire after God's Love to me, and by this my desires must much be moved: For I am not so capable of ascending above Self-interest, and Self-love, as in the state of Glorious Union I shall be. I am glad to perceive that others do love God; and ⟨p. 250⟩I love those most that I find most love him: But it is not other mens love to God that will be accepted by him instead of mine: Nor is it God's Love to others (which yet rejoiceth me) that will satisfy me without his love to me. But when all these are still before me, God's Essential Self-love and Delight, his Love to his Creatures, especially the Glorified, and his Love to me also, even to me a vile unworthy Sinner; what then should stay my ascending Love, or discourage my desires to be with God?

God's Infinite Essential SELF-LOVE, in which he is Eternally delighted in himself, is the most Amiable Object, and Heaven itself to Saints and Angels: And next to that His Love to all his Works, to the World, and to the Church in Heaven speaketh much more of his Loveliness than his Love to me. But yet due Self-love in me, is his work, and part of his natural Image; and when this by sin is grown up to excess, (through the withdrawing of a contracted narrow Soul, from the Union and due Love to my fellow Creatures, and to God) I must also, I cannot but, enquire after God's Love to me, and by this my desires must much be moved: For I am not so capable of ascending above Self-interest, and Self-love, as in the state of Glorious Union I shall be. I am glad to perceive that others do love God; and ⟨p. 250⟩I love those most that I find most love him: But it is not other mens love to God that will be accepted by him instead of mine: Nor is it God's Love to others (which yet rejoiceth me) that will satisfie me without his love to me. But when all these are still before me, God's Essential Self-love and Delight, his Love to his Creatures, especially the Glorified, and his Love to me also, even to me a vile unworthy Sinner; what then should stay my ascending Love, or discourage my desires to be with God?