I think heaven is the sweeter because many of my old, lovely, affectionate, holy friends are there, and I am the more willing by death to follow them. And should it not be more pleasing to think that my God and Father, my Saviour and Comforter, are there?
– Richard Baxter –
from the book Dying Thoughts, 1683
O Spend your time as you would hear of it in the Judgment!
– Richard Baxter –
1615-1691
Christ promised His Spirit to all true believers, to be in them as his Advocate, Agent, Seal, and Mark; and indeed the Spirit here, and heaven hereafter, are the chief of His promises.
– Richard Baxter –
from Dying Thoughts, 1683
You shall find this to be God’s usual course: not to give his children the taste of his delights till they begin to sweat in seeking after them.
– Richard Baxter –
The first and great work of a Christian is about his heart. There it is that God dwells by his Spirit, in his saints; and there it is that sin and Satan reign, in the ungodly. The great duties and the great sins are those of the heart. There is the root of good and evil: the tongue and life are but the fruits and expressions of that which dwells within.
– Richard Baxter –
1615 – 1691
That this Spirit is given to all true believers is evident by the effects of his being given. They have ends, affections, and lives different from the rest of mankind; they live upon the hopes of a better life, and their heavenly interest overrules all the opposite interest of this world. In order to this they live under the conduct of divine authority, and to obey and please God is the great business of their lives.
– Richard Baxter –
from Dying Thoughts, 1683
It is but right that our hearts should be on God, when the heart of God is so much on us.
– Richard Baxter –
1615-1691
The life to come depends upon this present life. As the life of adult age depends upon infancy, or the reward upon work; or the prize of racers or soldiers upon their running or fighting; or the merchant’s gain upon his voyage. Heaven is won or lost on earth; the possession is there, but the preparation is here.
– Richard Baxter –
from Dying Thoughts, 1683
I preached as never sure to preach again, and as a dying man to dying men.
– Richard Baxter –