A26921:835
Richard Baxter's dying thoughts upon Phil. I, 23 written for his own life and…
Richard Baxter's dying thoughts upon Phil. I, 23 written for his own life and the latter times of his corporal pains and weakness.
London: printed by Tho. Snowden for B. Simmons, 1683
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
But it's true that our Conceptions hereof are lamentably imperfect; and so they must be till Possession, Fruition, and Exercise perfect them. Who knoweth what Light or Sight is, but by Seeing; or what Knowledge is but by knowing? Or what Love, and Joy are but by loving and rejoicing? And who knows what Perfect Sight, Knowledge, Love, and Joy are, but by perfect Seeing, Knowing, Loving, and Rejoicing? No Man by an intuitive or immediate perception: But some abstractive Conceptions of it we may have by reasoning deduction, from that poor Degree ⟨p. 306⟩which we here in the Kingdom of Grace possess.
But it's true that our Conceptions hereof are lamenmentably imperfect; and so they must be till Possession, Fruition, and Exercise perfect them. Who knoweth what Light or Sight is, but by Seeing; or what Knowledge is but by knowing? Or what Love, and Joy are but by loving and rejoicing? And who knows what Perfect Sight, Knowledg, Love, and Joy are, but by perfect Seeing, Knowing, Loving, and Rejoicing? No Man by an intuitive or immediate perception: But some abstractive Conceptions of it we may have by reasoning deduction, from that poor Degree ⟨p. 306⟩which we here in the Kingdom of Grace possess.
Can I perceive substantiality in the dark terrene appearances, which are but mutable lifeless matter agitated and used by invisible Powers and shall I think of those unseen powerful substances as if they were less substantial for being Spiritual, or were not Objects for a knowing Thought. Are the Stars which I see less substantial than a Carcass in a darksome Grave? The Lord that appeared in shining Glory, hath Members in their measure like himself; and hath promised that we shall shine as Stars in the Kingdom of his Father: If some degree of this be here performed in them who are called the Children of Light, and the Lights of the World, how much more will they shine in the World of Light. They that call Light a quality or an Act, must confess it hath a substance whose quality or act it is. Alas, what a deceived thing is a sensual Unbeliever; who spendeth his Life in the pursuit of fugitive shadows, and walketh in a vain show, and thinks of Spiritual glorious substances, as if they were the nothings or delusions of a Dream?