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

But on the other side, it is a great delight to me, to think of the good which I received from many that are now in Heaven: Of the profitable Sermons which I heard from some, and the profitable conversation which I had with others: How oft we sweetly consulted together of the things which concern everlasting life? How many days in public and private we spent in preparation and in some prospect of the Blessedness which now they enjoy? And it is not a small Mercy to me, that I can think of Multitudes now in Heaven of whose Conversion and Salvation God hath made my weak endeavours a prosperous means. O what a Mercy is it to think on, that while I am yet compassed with temptations, and languishing in weakness, and groaning in pain, and worst of all burdened with a dark and ⟨p. 331⟩sinful Soul, so many are past all this with Christ, by means of any help which he sent them by my labours? It hath oft humbled me greatly to read in the lives of such men as John Janeway, and Joseph Allen, how much of their proficiency they ascribed to my Writings, and how far they over-went me, and left me quite behind them in Holy delights and praises of God! But how much more am I below a Multitude now in Heaven, who called me Father here on Earth.

But on the other side, it is a great delight to me, to think of the good which I received from many that are now in Heaven: Of the profitable Sermons which I heard from some, and the profitable conversation which I had with others: How oft we sweetly consulted together of the things which concern everlasting life? How many days in publick and private we spent in preparation and in some prospect of the Blessedness which now they enjoy? And it is not a small Mercy to me, that I can think of Multitudes now in Heaven of whose Conversion and Salvation God hath made my weak endeavours a prosperous means. O what a Mercy is it to think on, that while I am yet compassed with temptations, and languishing in weakness, and groaning in pain, and worst of all burdened with a dark and ⟨p. 331⟩sinful Soul, so many are past all this with Christ, by means of any help which he sent them by my labours? It hath oft humbled me greatly to read in the lives of such men as John Janeway, and Joseph Allen, how much of their proficiency they ascribed to my Writings, and how far they over-went me, and left me quite behind them in Holy delights and praises of God! But how much more am I below a Multitude now in Heaven, who called me Father here on Earth.