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

This was an inviting and delighting▪ and not an affrighting Apparition: Was it not a shameful infirmity and a sin, that Peter should deny Christ after such a sight as this; and the rest of the Disciples forsake him and fly? What! after they had seen the Kingdom of God come in Power, and Christ's Face shine as the Sun in its brightness? Could they forget all this? Or could they doubt whether he or his Persecutors were the stronger, and liker to prevail at last? O how frail, how uncertain, how bad a thing is depraved Man?

But though Christ found them asleep, and though he foreknew that they would forsake him, he forsook not them, nor used them as they deserved, but comforted them with a glimpse of Heaven. For he died for his Enemies.

§ 21. But this was but once in all the time of his abode among them. It was an extraordinary Feast, and not their daily Bread: They had Christ still with them, but not transfigured in Glory, nor Moses and Elijah in their sight: We are too apt to think that if God give us a joyful extraordinary glimpse of Heaven, we must have it always; or that he forsaketh us, and castus ⟨p. 328⟩off when he denieth it us! O that we were as desirous of Holiness and Duty, as we are of the Joy which is the reward! But our Father, and not we, must be the chooser both of our Food and Feast. Moses did not dwell on Mount Nebo, that he might still see the Land of Promise: It was enough to have one sight of it before his death. As Flesh and Blood cannot enter into Heaven, so it's little of Heaven that entereth into it.

§ 21. But this was but once in all the time of his abode among them. It was an extraordinary Feast, and not their daily Bread: They had Christ still with them, but not transfigured in Glory, nor Moses and Elias in their sight: We are too apt to think that if God give us a joyful extraordinary glimpse of Heaven, we must have it always; or that he forsaketh us, and castus