Richard Baxter's farewell sermon prepared to have been preached to his hearers at Kidderminster…Richard Baxter's farewel sermon prepared to have been preached to his hearers at Kidderminster…

I Will so far consent to your troubled thoughts of this unwelcome day as to confess that to me as well as you, it somewhat resembleth the day of death. 1. Death is the separation of the dearest consorts, Soul and Body: And how near the Union is betwixt us, both that of Relation, and that of Affection, which must admit this day of some kind of dissolution, I will rather tell to strangers then to you. 2. Death is unwelcome both to Soul and Body of itself; (though it destroy not the Soul it doth the body.) So dear Companions part not willingly. Your hearts and Mine are here so over forward in the application, that words may be well spared where sense hath taken so deep possession. 3. Death is the end of humane converse here on earth. We must see and talk with our friends here no more. And this our separation is like to end that converse between you and me, which formerly we have had in the duties of our Relations. We must no more go up together as formerly to the house of God; I must no more speak to you publicly in his name, nor solace my own soul in opening to you the Gospel of Salvation, nor in the mention of his Covenant, his Grace, or Kingdom: Those Souls that have not been convinced and Converted, are never like to hear more from me, for their conviction or conversion. I have finished all the instruction, reproof, exhortation and persuasion, which ever I must use in order to their salvation. I must speak here no more to inform the ignorant, to reform the