A26921:890
Richard Baxter's dying thoughts upon Phil. I, 23 written for his own life and…
Richard Baxter's dying thoughts upon Phil. I, 23 written for his own life and the latter times of his corporal pains and weakness.
London: printed by Tho. Snowden for B. Simmons, 1683
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
§ 26. Peter did not fly from this glorious Prospect; but would fain have had more of it, and have dwelt upon the Holy Mount. And when God will call me to a more glorious Vision, and Fruition in Heaven, shall I draw back and be unwilling to go? Was that Mount a better place than Heaven? Is not Christ now to be there seen in greater Glory? Is the Jerusalem above, the Glorious Company of Saints and Angels, no better and more desirable a sight, than Moses and Elijah were on the Mount? Alas, when we have read, and heard, and thought, and talked so much of Heaven, and done, and suffered so much for it, that yet we ⟨p. 337⟩should draw back with fear and unwillingness to go to it? O what lamentable weakness of Faith, and power of Flesh, doth this discover: when I read Peter's words [It's good to be here:] I am grieved that I who dwell in a World so near like Hell, among the implacable haters of Holiness and Holy Peace, and in a painful tired Body, and who have thought, said, and written so much of Heaven, do yet say with no stronger desire and joy: It is good to be there: When I see all natural Appetites desire earnestly their proper food, and even the Brutes desire their beloved company, shall my holy Appetite be so dull and indifferent: Lord quicken it by the fuller communications of thy Spirit, and save me from this hated dangerous disease.
§ 26. Peter did not fly from this glorious Prospect; but would fain have had more of it, and have dwelt upon the Holy Mount. And when God will call me to a more glorious Vision, and Fruition in Heaven, shall I draw back and be unwilling to go? Was that Mount a better place than Heaven? Is not Christ now to be there seen in greater Glory? Is the Jerusalem above, the Glorious Company of Saints and Angels, no better and more desirable a sight, than Moses and Elias were on the Mount? Alas, when we have read, and heard, and thought, and talkt so much of Heaven, and done, and suffered so much for it, that yet we ⟨p. 337⟩should draw back with fear and unwillingness to go to it? O what lamentable weakness of Faith, and power of Flesh, doth this discover: when I read Peter's words [It's good to be here:] I am grieved that I who dwell in a World so near like Hell, among the implacable haters of Holiness and Holy Peace, and in a painful tired Body, and who have thought, said, and written so much of Heaven, do yet say with no stronger desire and joy: It is good to be there: When I see all natural Appetites desire earnestly their proper food, and even the Bruits desire their beloved company, shall my holy Appetite be so dull and indifferent: Lord quicken it by the fuller communications of thy Spirit, and save me from this hated dangerous disease.