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

And should not my suffering be God's School; should I not learn obedience by it? Surely, as it smartly tells me of the evil of former disobedience, so it calls me to remember in whose hands I am, and with whom I have to do, and what is my duty in such a state? God can do no wrong to his own: He will do nothing finally hurtful to his Children. In all our afflictions he is said to be afflicted, to signify that he afflicts not willingly, or without our provocation. Justice is good, and holiness is good; and it's good for us to repent and be weaned from the Flesh and World: And all good must be loved, and the means as such: Sharp Heart-breaking Sermons are unpleasing to Nature; and yet to be loved for their use. And afflictions are God's powerful Sermons: The proud and hardened are forced to hear them, who scorn and prosecute Preachers for speaking the same things: And shall Believers under sufferings be untaught. Words are but Words, but stripes go by forcible sense unto the Heart: Obedient submission to the greatest pains, is a serious acknowledgement of God's Dominion, and of his Wisdom and Love, and the certain hopes of a better life. Impatience hath in it somewhat of Atheism, or Blasphemy; God is not duly acknowledged and honoured. Job's Wife would have had him thus purposely provoke God, to end his misery by Death: As if she had said, Speak no more well of him, by whom thou sufferest so much, nor honour a God that will not help thee: But Patience saith, Mic. 7. 7. I will look unto the Lord; I will wait for the God of my Salvation: my God will hear me.

And should not my suffering be God's School; should I not learn obedience by it? Surely, as it smartly tells me of the evil of former disobedience, so it calls me to remember in whose hands I am, and with whom I have to do, and what is my duty in such a state? God can do no wrong to his own: He will do nothing finally hurtful to his Children. In all our afflictions he is said to be afflicted, to signifie that he afflicts not willingingly, or without our provocation. Justice is good, and holiness is good; and it's good for us to repent and be weaned from the Flesh and World: And all good must be loved, and the means as such: Sharp Heart-breaking Sermons are unpleasing to Nature; and yet to be loved for their use. And afflictions are God's powerful Sermons: The proud and hardened are forced to hear them, who scorn and prosecute Preachers for speaking the same things: And shall Believers under sufferings be untaught. Words are but Words, but stripes go by forcible sense unto the Heart: Obedient submission to the greatest pains, is a serious acknowledgement of God's Dominion, and of his Wisdom and Love, and the certain hopes of a better life. Impatience hath in it somwhat of Atheism, or Blasphemy; God is not duely acknowledged and honoured. Job's Wife would have had him thus purposly provoke God, to end his misery by Death: As if she had said, Speak no more well of him, by whom thou sufferest so much, nor honour a God that will not help thee: But Patience saith,