IN BAXTER'S DYING THOUGHTS. these things are ascribed to God, much more near and glorious will the divine regiment there be, whoever are the administrators. 4. And as I must expect to be under some created; efficient and dirigent causes there,.so must I expect to have some subordi- nate ends; else therewould. not bea proportion and harmony in causalities.- Whatever nobler creatures are above me, and have their causalities upon me, I must look to be finally for these nobler creatures. When I look up and think what a world of glorious beings are now ¿ver-me, I dare hot presume to thinkthat I shall , finally, any more than receptively, be the nearest unto God, and that I am made for none but him. I -find here that I am made, and ruled, and sanctified,for the public or common good of many as above my own, of whiéh I am past doubt; and I am sure that I must bd, finally, for my glorified Redeemer ; and for what other spiritual.beings, or intelligences, that are above me, little do I know: and God hath so ordered all his creatures, as that they are mutually ends and means for and- to one another, though.' not in an equality, nor in the same respects. But what- ever nearer ends there will be, I am sure that he who is the first efficient; and dirigent, will be the ultimate, final cause ; and I shall be, in this respect, as near him as'is due to the rank and order of my nature. I shall be useful to the ends which are answerable to my perfection. 5. And if it be the honor of a servant to have an honorable master, and to be appointed to the most honorable work; if it be some honor to a horse above swine, or a worm,'or, fly,, that he serveth more nearly for the use of man, yea, for a'prince, will it not be alsomy advancement to be ultimately' for God, and subor- dinately for the highest created natures, and this in such services as are suitable to my spiritual and heavenly statd ? 6. For I am far from thinking that I shall be above service, and have none to do, for activity will be my perfection and my rest: and all such activity must be regular in harmony, and order of causes, and for its proper use ; and what, though I know not now fully what service it is that must do, I know It will be good and suitable ,to the blessed state which I shall be.in; and it is enough 'that God and my Redeemer know it; and that I shall know it in due time, when I come to practice it ; of which more afterward. 7. The inordinate love of this body and present composition seduceth souls to think .that all their use and work. is for its main- tenance and prosperity, and when the soul bath done that, and is separated from flesh, it bath nothing to do, but must lie idle, or be as nothing, or have no considerable work or pleasure. As if there were nothing in the' whole world, but this little fluid mass- of mat- ter, for a soul to work upon; as'if itself, and all the creatures, and
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