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

§ 23. But how did Peter know Moses and Elijah, whom he had never seen before? Perhaps glorified Saints do bear each one his notifying Signature, and need not names and sound of words to make them known: Perhaps Christ told the Disciples who they were that talked with him: Perhaps he made them know it by Inspiration, as Prophets have their knowledge. Any of these ways God could notify them: It […] not needful that we know which of them it was. But ⟨p. 329⟩that they were known is certain. We shall be no Strangers to any Saints in Heaven; and therefore not to our old acquaintance. Whether we shall have any greater love to them, or delight in them, for old acquaintance sake, or because they were instruments of our good on Earth, I know not: But I know that our love to them with whom we had Holy comfort on Earth, may well render Heaven more familiar to us now, and more suitable to our desires: O how great a number of my godly Friends are there? They are so many that I cannot make a Catalogue of their Names; but the Memory of abundance of them doth delight me. And when we meet there we shall be far better known to each other, then we were to the most intimate on Earth.

§ 23. But how did Peter know Moses and Elias, whom he had never seen before? Perhaps glorified Saints do bear each one his notifying Signature, and need not names and sound of words to make them known: Perhaps Christ told the Disciples who they were that talked with him: Perhaps he made them know it by Inspiration, as Prophets have their knowledge. Any of these ways God could notifie them: It 〈…〉 not needful that we know which of them it was. But ⟨p. 329⟩that they were known is certain. We shall be no Strangers to any Saints in Heaven; and therefore not to our old acquaintance. Whether we shall have any greater love to them, or delight in them, for old acquaintance sake, or because they were instruments of our good on Earth, I know not: But I know that our love to them with whom we had Holy comfort on Earth, may well render Heaven more familiar to us now, and more suitable to our desires: O how great a number of my godly Friends are there? They are so many that I cannot make a Catalogue of their Names; but the Memory of abundance of them doth delight me. And when we meet there we shall be far better known to each other, then we were to the most intimate on Earth.