A26921:980
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.
1. There is no dying comfortably without this experienced ⟨p. 368⟩taste of the Love of God. This will draw up the desires of the Soul: Love tasted, casteth out fear; though God be Holy and Just, and Judgment terrible, and Hell intolerable, and the Soul hath no distinct Idea of its future state out of the Body, and though we see not whither it is that we must go, the taste of God's love will make it go joyfully, as trusting him; as a Child will go any whither in his Father's power and hand.
1. There is no dying comfortably without this experienced ⟨p. 368⟩taste of the Love of God. This will draw up the desires of the Soul: Love tasted, casteth out fear; though God be Holy and Just, and Judgment terrible, and Hell intollerable, and the Soul hath no distinct Idea of its future state out of the Body, and though we see not whither it is that we must go, the taste of God's love will make it go joyfully, as trusting him; as a Child will go any whither in his Father's power and hand.
But all the knowledge in the World without this, quiets not a departing Soul. A Man may write as many Books, and Preach as many Sermons of Heaven as I have done, and speak of it, and think of almost nothing else, and yet till the Soul be sweetened and comforted with the Love of God shed abroad on it by the Holy Ghost, death and the next life will be rather a Man's fear, than his desire. And the common fear of death which we see in the far greatest part even of godly Persons, doth tell us, that though they may have saving desires, and hopes, yet this sense of God's love on the Heart is rare.
But all the knowledge in the World without this, quiets not a departing Soul. A Man may write as many Books, and Preach as many Sermons of Heaven as I have done, and speak of it, and think of almost nothing else, and yet till the Soul be sweetned and comforted with the Love of God shed abroad on it by the Holy Ghost, death and the next life will be rather a Man's fear, than his desire. And the common fear of death which we see in the far greatest part even of godly Persons, doth tell us, that though they may have saving desires, and hopes, yet this sense of God's love on the Heart is rare.