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

§ 24. It is no great wonder that Peter should be transported with this glorious sight; and greatly delighted ⟨p. 332⟩with this heavenly Communion, and say, Master, it is good for us to be here. Would not a sight, a glimpse of Heaven, have transported any Holy Soul? Yea, even those that now lie in tears and fears, and are overwhelmed with doubts and troubles? When they are groping after God, and groaning on their Knees because they feel more of his frowns than of his love, if then they had such a sight as this, what a change would it make upon them? Perhaps you'll say, that the doubt of their own sincerity might still deprive them of the Joy. No: This sight would banish doubts and troubles: It is a communication of Love, and such as will fully convince the Communicants.

Without such a miraculous glimpse of Glory, God sometime giveth some of his Servants such a Mental illustration, and inward glimpse and taste of Heaven, as greatly overcometh all the fears of Pain and Death; such many old and later Martyrs have had: It was a strange word of the godly Bishop of St. Davids, Mr. Farrar, to his Neighbours, [If I stir in the Fire, believe not my Doctrine:] and accordingly he stirred not. If he had not had some Prophetical Inspiration, this could not have been justified, from being a presumptuous tempting God: And Mr. Baynam's case was a mere wonder, who in the Flames called to the Papists to see a Miracle, professing to them that in the Fire he felt no more pain, than if he had been laid in a Bed of Down or Roses.

Without such a miraculous glimpse of Glory, God sometime giveth some of his Servants such a Mental illustration, and inward glimpse and taste of Heaven, as greatly overcometh all the fears of Pain and Death; such many old and later Martyrs have had: It was a strange word of the godly Bishop of St. Davids, Mr. Farrar, to his Neighbours, [If I stir in the Fire, believe not my Doctrin:] and accordingly he stirred not. If he had not had some Prophetical Inspiration, this could not have been justified, from being a presumptuous tempting God: And Mr. Baynam's case was a meer wonder, who in the Flames called to the Papists to see a Miracle, professing to them that in the Fire he felt no more pain, than if he had been laid in a Bed of Down or Roses.