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

I am just now reading in Melch. Adam's Lives of the German Philosophers, the Life of Olympia Fulvia Morata, which ended with some such experience. In many Ages there hath been some one rare Woman who hath excelled men in the Languages, Philosophy and other humane Learning: Such a one was this Olympia ⟨p. 333⟩Fulvia Morata of Ferrara: She married Andr. Gundler a Physician: She removed with him into Germany; being by the way convinced of the Guard of Angels by her young Brothers falling out of a high Window on cragged Stones without any more hurt than if it had been on the soft ground: In Germany she thus wrote to Anna Estensis a Guisian Princess [As soon as by the singular goodness of God, I was departed from the Italian Idolatry, and came with my Husband into Germany, it is incredible how God changed my Soul (or mind) which being formerly most averse (or abhorring) to the Divine Scriptures, am now delighted in them alone, and place in them all my Study, Labour, Care, and Mind: And as much as possible contemn all the Riches, Honours, and Pleasures, which formerly I was wont to admire.] But the Cross presently following (in God's usual Method,) her Husband and She were by Soldiers stripped naked save the shift next the Body, and narrowly scaping with life, were put so to wander from place to place, none daring to entertain them, even when she was sick of a Fever: till at last they found liberal entertainment; in which she shortly fell into a mortal Disease, of which she died: And in her last Sickness, and after much torment of Body, near Death she pleasantly smiled: Her Husband asked her the Cause; who said, I saw a certain place which was full of a most clear and beauteous Light: Intimating that she should be quickly there, and saying, I am wholly full of Joy: And spake no more till her Eye-sight failing; she said, I scarce know any of you any more: But all things else about seem to be full of most beauteous Flowers; which were her last words, (having a long time professed that nothing seemed more desirable to her than to be dissolved and to be with Christ, in all her sickness magnifying his Mercies to her.

I am just now reading in Melch. Adam's Lives of the German Philosophers, the Life of Olympia Fulvia Morata, which ended with some such experience. In many Ages there hath been some one rare Woman who hath excelled men in the Languages, Philosophy and other humane Learning: Such a one was this Olympia ⟨p. 333⟩