180 BAXTER'S DYING THOUGHTS. glorified love ; and therefore no less than in all its tender expres- sions upon earth. As lave is no where perfectly believed but in heaven, so I can no where so fully discern it, as by lookingqp by faith to my Father and Savior, which is in heaven, and conversing more believingly with the heavenly society. Had 'I done this more and better, and as I have persuaded others to do it, I had lived in moreconvincing delights of God's love, which would have tumed the fears of death into more joyful hopes, and more earnest desires to be with Christ, in the arms, in the world, in the life of love, as far better than to be here, in a dark, a doubting, fear- ing world. But, O Father of infinite love ! though my arguments be many and strong, my heart is bad, and my strength is weakness, and I am insufficient to plead the cause of thy love and loveliness to myself or others. O,; plead thy own cause; and what heart can resist? Let it not be my word, only, but thine, that thou lovest me, even me, asinner : speak it as Christ said toLazarus, "Arise." If not, as thou tellest me that the sun is warm, yet as thou hast told me that my parents and my dearest friends did love me; and much more powerfully than so. Tell it me, as thou tellest me that thou hast given me life, by the consciousness and works of life ; that while I can say, " Thou that knowest all things, know- est that I love thee ; " it may include, ' Therefore I know that I am beloved of thee;' and therefore come to thee in the confidence of thy love, and long to be nearer in the clearer sight, the fuller sense, and joyfuller exercise of love forever. Father, into thy hand I commend my spirit. Lord Jesus, receive my spirit ! Amen.
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