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

There is a stability in the Essentials of Holiness: It's Life eternal that is here begun: But, alas, the degrees of Grace, the exercise of it, the evenness and integrity of our obedience, and accordingly our Comforts, are lamentably liable to change. Even as all worldly things are mutable to the ungodly, though their hardened Hearts are too little changeable. Expecting nothing but joy from God, or expecting more than we are meet for, maketh our dejections the greater and more grievous. None are cast lower with terror, trouble, and almost despair, than some that have been most transported with joy: When some other Christians of an even conversation, have an evenness and constancy of Holy Peace, though no such joys.

There is a stability in the Essentials of Holiness: It's Life eternal that is here begun: But, alas, the degrees of Grace, the exercise of it, the evenness and integrity of our obedience, and accordingly our Comforts, are lamentably liable to change. Even as all worldly things are mutable to the ungodly, though their harden'd Hearts are too little changeable. Expecting nothing but joy from God, or expecting more than we are meet for, maketh our dejections the greater and more grievous. None are cast lower with terrour, trouble, and almost despair, than some that have been most transported with joy: When some other Christians of an even conversation, have an evenness and constancy of Holy Peace, though no such joys.

§ 31. The Cloud separated the Company, Moses, and Elijah are seen no more; no nor the Glory of Christ: But yet Christ is not separated from them: His ordinary presence still abideth with them. Christ doth not leave the Soul, when extraordinary joys do leave it: It loseth not his saving Grace, nor the presence of his Spirit, as oft as it loseth heavenly delight. Desire showeth Love to him, and to his Holiness: And he never forsaketh those that love him: As long as the Soul breatheth after Christ, and after more communion with God, and conscious of its imperfection would fain be perfect, and resolveth to continue waiting for increase of Faith and Holiness in the use of the means which Christ hath appointed, it is not forsaken. Christ by his Spirit dwelleth, and worketh in that Soul. It may enter into a Cloud, and Christ may be unseen, and seem quite lost, but the Cloud will vanish, and he will appear; and he will first find us, that we may seek