BAXTER'S DYING THOUGHTS. 121 good will be there. Satan did most against it, and God will do most for it. And will it not be better to be with Christ thanhere? 1. It will not there be tied to a body of cross interests and in- clinations, which is now the greatest snare and enemy to my soul; which is still drawing my love, and care, and fears, and sorrows, to and for itself, and turning them from my highest interest. How great a deliverance will it be to be freed from the temptar dons, and the inordinate love, and cares, and fears, for this corrup- tible flesh !" 2. My will shall not there be tempted by a world of inferior good, which is the bait and provision for the flesh, where meat, and sleep, and possessions, house, lands, and friends, are all become my snares and danger. God's mercies will not be made there the tempter's instruments. I shall not there have the flatteries or frowns, promises or threatenings, of the tyrants of the world to tempt me : bad company will not infect me, nor divert me : the errors of good men will not seduce me; nor reputation or reverence of the wise, learned, or religious, drawme to imitate them in any sin. 3. I shall there have none of Satan's solicitations to pervert my will: he will not have that advantage by my sense and fancy, nor that access unto me, as now he hath,. But of this I spake before. Mywill shall there -be better than here, i, Negatively, because, (L.) There will be nothing that is displeasing to God ; no sinful inclination,' habit, or act; nothing to strive against God's Spirit; nor grudge at anÿ word or work of God; no principles of enmity or rebellion left. (2.) There will be nothing that is against the good of others ; no inclinations to injury, or any thing that is against my neighbor's or the common good. (3.) Therewill be nothing in it that is cross to itself; no more war or striving in me; not -a law in my mind, and a law in my members, that are contrary to eaçh other; no crossness between sense and reason, nor between the sensitive appetite and the rational : all will be at unity and peace within. ii. Positively, Christ will have finished his cure on my will. The work of sanctification will be perfect. My will shall . there, by union and communion, be made conformable to the will of Christ, and so unto the Father's will. This must needs be meant (whatevermore) inthe'prayer of Christ, where he prayeth, " That they may be one, as thou, Father, art in me, and L in thee, that theymaybe onein us, that they may be one, even as we are one." John xvii. 21, 22: The will of Christ and of the Father will be my will ; that is I shall love and will (dispositively and actually) the same that God loveth and willeth, (in the measure of a crea- ture infinitely below him.) And if so, 1.. How can the will of voL. II. 16
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=