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

And dost thou doubt, canst thou doubt, O my Soul, whether thou art going to a God that loveth thee? If the Jews discerned the great love of Christ to Lazarus by his Tears, canst not thou discern his Love to thee in his Blood? It is never the less but the more obliging and amiable, that it was not shed for thee alone, but for many. May I not say as Paul, Gal. 2, 20. I live by the Faith of the Son of God, that hath loved Me, and given himself for me! Yea, it is not so much I that live, as Christ Liveth in me? And will he forsake the Habitation which his love hath chosen? And which he hath so dearly bought! O read often that triumphing Chapter, Rom. 8. and conclude, What shall separate us from the Love of God? If Life have not done it, Death shall not do it. If leaning on his Breast at Meat, was a token of Christ's special love to John, is not his dwelling in me by my Faith, and his living in me by his Spirit, a sure token of his love to me: And if a dark saying, [If he tarry till I come, what is that to thee?] raised a report that the beloved Disciple should not die, why should not plain Promises assure me that I shall live with him that loveth me for ever? Be not so unthankful, O my Soul, as to question doubtingly whether thy heavenly Father, and thy Lord ⟨p. 251⟩doth love thee? Canst thou forget the sealed Testimonies of it? Did I not even now repeat so many as should shame thy doubts? A multitude of thy Friends have loved thee so entirely, that thou canst not doubt of it? And did any of them signify their love with the convincing evidence that God hath done? Have they done for thee what he hath done: Are they Love itself; Is their love so full, so firm and so unchangeable as his? I think the sweetlier of Heaven because abundance of my ancient Lovely and Loving Holy Friends are there, and am the willinger by Death to follow them. And should I not think of it more pleasedly because my God and Father, my Saviour, and my Comforter is there? And not alone, but with all the Society of Love. Was not Lazarus in the Bosom of God himself? yet it is said, that he was in Abraham's Bosom; as the Promise runs, that we shall sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the Kingdom of God. And what maketh the Society of Saints so sweet as holy Love? It is comfortable to read that, To love the Lord our God with all our Heart, and Soul, and might, is the First and great Commandment;