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

§ 3. For the understanding of this we must know, that when God had made Man good, in his Image, he conversed with him in a heavenly manner, either immediately, or by an Angel speaking to him, and telling him his will. But Man being made a free self-determining Agent, he was left to choose whom he would follow: And hearkening unto Satan, and turning from God, he became a Slave of Satan, and gave him advantage to be his deceiving Ruler: Not that Man's rebellion nullified God's Power, or disposing Government, or took Man from under Obligation to Obedience: but that forsaking God he was much, though not wholly forsaken by his special fatherly approving Government, and left to Satan and his own will: But the eternal Word interposing for Man's Reprieval and Redemption, undertook to break the Serpents Head, and to conquer and cast out him that had deceived and captivated Man: And choosing out a special Seed he made them a peculiar People, and set up a heavenly Prophetical Government over them, himself by heavenly Revelation making their Laws, and choosing their chief Governors under him, from time to time, and would not leave it to blind and sinful Man to make Laws or choose Princes for themselves, but would keep them in a special dependence upon Heaven. But the carnal Israelites having provoked God by odious Idolatry to deny them much of the benefit of Government (save when they repented and cried to him for help) they thought to amend this by choosing a King like other Nations, and ending their dependence on heavenly Revelation and choice for Government: And so ⟨p. 302⟩Theocracy was turned into a more humane Regiment, and God more cast off: Though yet he would not quite forsake them. And the rest of the World was yet more left under the power of Satan and their own corrupted mind and will. So that Satan hath both an Internal Kingdom in wicked Souls, and a visible Political Government of the wicked Kingdoms of the World, ruling them by men that are ruled by him. And as Christ came to cast him out of mens Hearts by his sanctifying conquering Spirit, so also to cast him out of the Political Government of the Kingdoms of the World, and to bring them under the Laws, and Officers, and Spirit of Christ, and rule them by heavenly Power and Love as his own Kingdoms, that he may bring them to Perfection in one Celestial Kingdom at last.

§ 3. For the understanding of this we must know, that when God had made Man good, in his Image, he conversed with him in a heavenly manner, either immediately, or by an Angel speaking to him, and telling him his will. But Man being made a free self-determining Agent, he was left to choose whom he would follow: And hearkening unto Satan, and turning from God, he became a Slave of Satan, and gave him advantage to be his deceiving Ruler: Not that Man's rebellion nullified God's Power, or disposing Government, or took Man from under Obligation to Obedience: but that forsaking God he was much, though not wholly forsaken by his special fatherly approving Government, and left to Satan and his own will: But the eternal Word interposing for Man's Reprival and Redemption, undertook to break the Serpents Head, and to conquer and cast out him that had deceived and captivated Man: And choosing out a special Seed he made them a peculiar People, and set up a heavenly Prophetical Government over them, himself by heavenly Revelation making their Laws, and choosing their chief Governours under him, from time to time, and would not leave it to blind and sinful Man to make Laws or choose Princes for themselves, but would keep them in a special dependance upon Heaven. But the carnal Israelites having provoked God by odious Idolatry to deny them much of the benefit of Government (save when they repented and cryed to him for help) they thought to amend this by choosing a King like other Nations, and ending their dependance on heavenly Revelation and choice for Government: And so