Dying thoughts

Famous last words

DYING THOUGHTS
By Richard Baxter
Banner of Truth. 124 pages. £4.50
ISBN 0 85151 886 9

Written by a Puritan, at first glance, the title of this small book from the past might seem a little sour to the modern palate. But in five short chapters, focusing on Paul's text of Philippians 1.23, the author shows, through persuasive argument and personal testimony, how the hope of heaven ought to stir the believer in present living.

The theme throughout is one of preparation for leaving this imperfect world with all its temporal blessings to enter into even greater blessedness in the perfect state above. The introduction itself has much to say to preachers, challenging the content and delivery of sermons, and the importance of linking preaching with pastoring.

Here, a warm-hearted pastor shares his inmost thoughts as he wrestles with his own anxieties and fears in contemplating the subject of death and afterlife. He draws out all the arguments he can to cause the believer to look forward with eagerness for the coming world while at the same time realising that this can only be done comfortably through correct living now. Any book that helps focus our motivation for right living can only be profitable.

This is a good read, providing counsel, comfort and strength in the face of the most important question.

Brian Moody,
pastor of Dorking Road Baptist Church, Epsom

© Evangelicals Now - March 2005
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Main Articles

• Why I resigned from the BBC
  Antony Pitts, Senior Producer from BBC Radio 3, explains
• The Commentary
  Hope I die before I get old?
• They believed God!
  L'Abri 50 years on
• Alien at home 3
  What's good about non-Christian parents?
• Bribery and corruption
  Sir Fred looks at a worldwide phenomenon
• Give her a break!
  A Christian family helps a wayward niece
• Demonstrating what?
  As Easter approaches, Bob Horn asks: 'What does the apostle Paul teach about the cross?'
• Foxed for a witness? ... try hunting
  As fox hunting is banned, Phil Sampson gives a perspective on the issue
• Monthly media and arts column
  Art behind the headlines in Turkey and Iran
• Monthly youth leaders column
  Keeping ahead of the game
• Letter from America
  A hug says it all
• The Music Exchange
  The last trumpet
• The Third Degree
  The big 'seven five' - UCCF's best year ever!
• A brother indeed
  An interview with Brother Andrew, reflecting on 50 years of his ministry

Other articles

• Assessing Europe's 'headscarf law' debates
• Vera Drake
• Votewise
• Where is God when things go wrong?
• The best of Sixpence None The Richer
• Dying thoughts
• Straw dogs - Thoughts on human and other animals
• Evil and the Cross
• Deaf perspectives - Challenging Dominant Christian Thought Conference papers from Deaf Christian Link UK and The London School of Theology
• Peace, toleration and decay
• The essence of family
• Understanding Islamic terrorism
• The parables of Jesus
• The NIV/Message Parallel Bible
• Hope, respect and trust - valuing these three
• The case for traditional Protestantism
• The Ultimate Christian Library DVD
• An iron pillar - the life and times of William Romaine
• Counsellors & Counselling
• David and Goliath - (and three other 3D childrens books)