A26921:947
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.
What have I to rejoice in, if this hoped Glory, be not my joy? All things else are dying to me. And God himself is not my Felicity, as he afflicts me, nor as he giveth me the transitory gifts of Nature, but as he is to be seen in Glory. If this be not my joy, it's all but vanity. What then should all my thoughts and labour aim at more (as to my self) than to hope for, and foretaste this Glory. No sin lieth heavier on me, than that my hopes of Glory raise me to no higher joy, and that the great weakness of my Faith, appeareth by such dull thoughts of Glory, or by withdrawing fears. Sure there is enough in the Glory of God, soundly believed and hoped for, to make a Man rejoice in pain and weakness, and to make him long to ⟨p. 363⟩be with Christ. I live not according to the Nature of Christianity, if I live not as in peace with God, and in the joyful hopes of promised Glory.
What have I to rejoice in, if this hoped Glory, be not my joy? All things else are dying to me. And God himself is not my Felicity, as he afflicts me, nor as he giveth me the transitory gifts of Nature, but as he is to be seen in Glory. If this be not my joy, it's all but vanity. What then should all my thoughts and labour aim at more (as to my self) than to hope for, and foretast this Glory. No sin lieth heavier on me, than that my hopes of Glory raise me to no higher joy, and that the great weakness of my Faith, appeareth by such dull thoughts of Glory, or by withdrawing fears. Sure there is enough in the Glory of God, soundly believed and hoped for, to make a Man rejoice in pain and weakness, and to make him long to ⟨p. 363⟩be with Christ. I live not according to the Nature of Christianity, if I live not as in peace with God, and in the joyful hopes of promised Glory.
VII. [Not only so, but we glory in Tribulation.] Glory is so Transcendent, and Tribulation so small and short, that an expectant of Glory may well rejoice in bodily sufferings. It is Tribulation for Christ and Righteousness sake, that we are said to Glory in: The rest for our sins, it's well if we can improve and patiently bear. Yet in them we may rejoice, in hope of Glory, though we glory not of them. O if all the painful languid Days, and Nights, and Years that I have had, as the fruit of my sin, had been sufferings for that which I am now hated and hunted for, even for preaching Christ when men forbid me, how joyfully might I undergo it: But yet even here, approaching Glory should be my joy. Alas, my groans and moans are too great, and my joy too little.