A26921:866
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.
§ 13. Sure it is not true that the Souls of the Fathers before Christ's coming did not enter into Heaven, but lay in some inferior Limbus? For Moses and Elijah came from Heaven; their shining glory showed that, and their discourse with Christ, and the Voice and glory that went with them. And it is not to be thought that they were separated from the rest of the Souls of the Faithful, and with Enoch were in Heaven by themselves alone, and the rest elsewhere. Though it's said that God's House hath many Mansions, and there are various degrees of Glory, yet the blessed are all Fellow-Citizens, of one Society, and Children in one Family of God. And they that came from East and West, shall sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, in the Kingdom of God; and Lazarus is in Abraham's bosom, and the believing Thief with Christ in Paradise.
§ 13. Sure it is not true that the Souls of the Fathers before Christ's coming did not enter into Heaven, but lay in some inferiour Limbus? For Moses and Elias came from Heaven; their shining glory shewed that, and their discourse with Christ, and the Voice and glory that went with them. And it is not to be thought that they were separated from the rest of the Souls of the Faithful, and with Henoch were in Heaven by themselves alone, and the rest elsewhere. Though it's said that God's House hath many Mansions, and there are various degrees of Glory, yet the blessed are all Fellow-Citizens, of one Society, and Children in one Family of God. And they that came from East and West, shall sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, in the Kingdom of God; and Lazarus is in Abraham's bosom, and the believing Thief with Christ in Paradise.
§ 14. It seems that Moses and Elijah appeared thus, to fore show the Resurrection of Christ, and of the Faithful, and to make it easier to the three Disciples to believe it. Why should they doubt whether Christ ⟨p. 323⟩should rise, when they saw Moses that was risen before him: And why should they doubt of the Resurrection of the Faithful and the Glory following, when they saw these glorified Saints? Some think that this Apparition was for the strengthening of Christ himself, whose humane Nature had use for such Ministry also of Angels: But it's more certain that it was for the strengthening of the Disciples Faith, and of ours by their Testimony. As it's said,