A26921:923
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.
Lord shine into this Soul with such an heavenly potent quickening Light, as may give me more lively and powerful conceptions of that which is all my hope and life. Leave me not to the exercise of Art alone, in barren notions; but make it as Natural to me to love Thee and breath after Thee: Thou teachest the young ones both of men and brutes, to seek to the Dam for food and shelter: And though Grace be not a ⟨p. 352⟩[…] ⟨p. 353⟩[…] ⟨p. 354⟩brutish Principle, but work by Reason, it hath its Nature and Inclining force; and tendeth towards its Original as its End. Let not my Soul be destitute of that holy Sense and Appetite, which the Divine and Heavenly Nature doth contain. Let me not lay more stress and trust upon my own Sight and Sense, than on the Sight and Fidelity of my God and my Redeemer. I am not so foolish as to live as if this Earth were no bigger than the little of it which I see: Let me not be so much more foolish as to think of the vast and glorious Regions, and the Blessed Inhabitants thereof, and the Receptacles of justified Souls, as if they wanted either substantiality or certainty, to exercise a heavenly conversation here, and to feast believing Souls with joy, and draw forth well grounded and earnest desire, to depart and be with Christ.
Lord shine into this Soul with such an heavenly potent quickening Light, as may give me more lively and powerful conceptions of that which is all my hope and life. Leave me not to the exercise of Art alone, in barren notions; but make it as Natural to me to love Thee and breath after Thee: Thou teachest the young ones both of men and bruits, to seek to the Dam for food and shelter: And though Grace be not a ⟨p. 352⟩〈…〉 ⟨p. 353⟩〈…〉 ⟨p. 354⟩brutish Principle, but work by Reason, it hath its Nature and Inclining force; and tendeth towards its Original as its End. Let not my Soul be destitute of that holy Sense and Appetite, which the Divine and Heavenly Nature doth contain. Let me not lay more stress and trust upon my own Sight and Sense, than on the Sight and Fidelity of my God and my Redeemer. I am not so foolish as to live as if this Earth were no bigger than the little of it which I see: Let me not be so much more foolish as to think of the vast and glorious Regions, and the Blessed Inhabitants thereof, and the Receptacles of justified Souls, as if they wanted either substantiality or certainty, to exercise a heavenly conversation here, and to feast believing Souls with joy, and draw forth well grounded and earnest desire, to depart and be with Christ.