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

§ 13. And my thoughts of this have had this issue. 1. There is a great difference between that Light which showeth us the Thing it self, and that artificial skill by which we have right Notions, Names, Definitions, and formed Arguments, and Answers to Objections. This Artificial, Logical, Organical kind of Knowledge is good and useful in its kind, if right; like Speech it self: But he that hath much of this, may have little of the former: ¹And unlearned persons that have little of this, may have more of the former, and may have those inward perceptions of the verity of the Promises & Rewards of God, which they cannot bring forth into artificial reasonings to themselves or others; who are taught of God by the effective sort of Teaching, which reacheth the Heart o• Will, as well as the Understanding, and is a Giving of what is taught, and a Making us such as we are told we must be. And who findeth not need to pray hard for this ⟨p. 9⟩effective Teaching of God, when he hath got all Organical Knowledge, and Words and Arguments in themselves most apt, at his fingers ends (as we say?) When I can prove the Truth of the Word of God, and the Life to come, with the most convincing undeniable Reasons, I feel need to cry and pray daily to God, to increase my Faith, and to give me that Light which may satisfy the Soul, and reach the end.

§ 13. And my thoughts of this have had this issue. 1. There is a great difference between that Light which sheweth us the Thing it self, and that artificial skill by which we have right Notions, Names, Definitions, and formed Arguments, and Answers to Objections. This Artificial, Logical, Organical kind of Knowledge is good and useful in its kind, if right; like Speech it self: But he that hath much of this, may have little of the former: ¹And unlearned persons that have little of this, may have more of the former, and may have those inward perceptions of the verity of the Promises & Rewards of God, which they cannot bring forth into artificial reasonings to themselves or others; who are taught of God by the effective sort of Teaching, which reacheth the Heart o• Will, as well as the Understanding, and is a Giving of what is taught, and a Making us such as we are told we must be. And who findeth not need to pray hard for this