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

§ 6. Say not then, O my Soul that this Kingdom of Glory is so far above thee, that thou canst have no Idea of it: Think not that it is therefore unmeet for thy desiring and joyful hopes, because thou canst not know what it is: Hast thou no conception of the difference between Light and Darkness? If thou hadst been but one Year kept in absolute darkness, wouldst thou have no desiring thoughts of light? The Blind think themselves half dead, while they are alive. Indeed the Faculty and Object must be suitable: Light may be too great for our weak Eyes, as heat may be torment in an unsuitable degree: but when our Souls are perfected, they will be suitable Recipients of a more glorious Light than we can here endure: Moses is not there covered in a cleft of the Rock, because he could see but as the back parts of God's Glory. We must see here but as in a Glass: but there as Face to Face. Though these Organical Eyes as Spectacles shall be laid by, we shall have Media more perfect suitable to our perfect state.

And as I can think of Heaven as a Region of glorious Light, so can I think of it as a place and state of Life and Love: I know somewhat of the difference of Life and Death; and that a living Dog is better than a dead Lyon. And I have felt what it is to love my Friends, and thence to desire their near communion as my delight. And can I then have no Idea of that World, where Life, Light and Joyful Love are the very Element of Souls, as Water is to the Fishes.

And as I can think of Heaven as a Region of glorious Light, so can I think of it as a place and state of Life and Love: I know somwhat of the difference of Life and Death; and that a living Dog is better than a dead Lyon. And I have felt what it is to love my Friends, and thence to desire their near communion as my delight. And can I then have no Idea of that World, where Life, Light and Joyful Love are the very Element of Souls, as Water is to the Fishes.