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

§ 27. But Peter spake he knew not what, when he talked of building Tabernacles on Earth, for the fruition of that which is proper to Heaven. Alas, this is our common malady and folly: We would have Christ in the Splendour of his Glory: but we would have him here: We would see Moses and Elijah, if they will come down to us: We would have that in the Flesh, which Flesh and Blood cannot possess. O if we knew in what Land, what City, what Country, what private House, we might live in the least glimpse of the heavenly Glory, how joyfully should we run to such an Habitation? Merchants make towards the most gainful place for trade: Poor men enquire after the most fertile and delectable Countries for Plantation! Gentlemen delight themselves with a sweet and pleasantly seated Mansion: But if Saints on Earth could find a place where they could see what Stephen, or Paul, or these Apostles saw, and have a little of Heaven without dying and putting off this Body, what a desirable dwelling would that seem to them. And yet, alas, ⟨p. 338⟩how cold are our desires to the time and place where we shall have much more? We have Christ on Earth, in the manner and measure that we are capable. We have here some communion with Heaven, as verily (though not so sensibly) as our Eye hath with the Sun: God will not deny Believers their Title, their Earnest, and some first Fruits: But when we would have our All or our Best on Earth, or that on Earth which is proper to Heaven, we know not what we desire or say.

§ 27. But Peter spake he knew not what, when he talkt of building Tabernacles on Earth, for the fruition of that which is proper to Heaven. Alas, this is our common malady and folly: We would have Christ in the Splendour of his Glory: but we would have him here: We would see Moses and Elias, if they will come down to us: We would have that in the Flesh, which Flesh and Blood cannot possess. O if we knew in what Land, what City, what Countrey, what private House, we might live in the least glimpse of the heavenly Glory, how joyfully should we run to such an Habitation? Merchants make towards the most gainful place for trade: Poor men enquire after the most fertile and delectable Countries for Plantation! Gentlemen delight themselves with a sweet and pleasantly seated Mansion: But if Saints on Earth could find a place where they could see what Stephen, or Paul, or these Apostles saw, and have a little of Heaven without dying and putting off this Body, what a desirable dwelling would that seem to them. And yet, alas,