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

9. It puts a mellow pleasant sweetness into all our duties: When we hear the Word, or receive the Sacrament, it is to such a Soul as pleasant Food to the most healthful Man: When we pray or praise God, it comes from a comforted Heart and excites and increaseth the comfort it comes from. O who can be backward to draw near to God in Prayer or Meditation, who tasteth the sweetness of his Love. This is Religion indeed, and tells us what its life, and use, and glory is: This is the true walking with God in the best degree: When the Soul liveth in the taste of his Love, the Heart will be still with him, and that will be its Pleasure: And God most delights in such a Soul.

10. This is it that putteth the sweetest relish on all our Mercies: Deny God's love, and you deny them all. If you taste not his love in them, you taste little more than a Beast may taste: Poor Food and Raiment is sweet with the sense of the Love of God. Had I more of this, I should lie down, and rise, and walk in Pleasure and content: I could bear the loss of other things: And though Nature will feel pains, I should have Pleasure and Peace in the midst of all my pains, and groans. This is the white Stone, the New Name: No Man well knoweth it who never felt it in himself.

10. This is it that putteth the sweetest relish on all our Mercies: Deny God's love, and you deny them all. If you tast not his love in them, you taste little more than a Beast may taste: Poor Food and Rayment is sweet with the sense of the Love of God. Had I more of this, I should lie down, and rise, and walk in Pleasure and content: I could bear the loss of other things: And though Nature will feel pains, I should have Pleasure and Peace in the midst of all my pains, and groans. This is the white Stone, the New Name: No Man well knoweth it who never felt it in himself.

1. There is no dying comfortably without this experienced