# “I am swallowed up in God” by Thomas Goodwin

- Link: https://tollelege.net/2022/08/20/i-am-swallowed-up-in-god-by-thomas-goodwin/
- Published: 2022-08-20T12:00:02-05:00
- Author: tollelege

Thomas Goodwin died in London at age eighty. His son wrote this about his father’s
final days:

“In February 1679, a fever seized my dear father, which in a few days put an end
to his life.

In all the violence of it, he discoursed with that strength of faith and assurance
of Christ’s love, with that holy admiration of free grace, with that joy in believing,
and such thanksgivings and praises, as he extremely moved and affected all that 
heard him.

He rejoiced in the thoughts that he was dying, and going to have a full and uninterrupted
communion with God.

> ‘I am going,’ said he, ‘to the three Persons, with whom I have had communion: 
> they have taken me; I did not take them. I shall be changed in the twinkling of
> an eye; all my lusts and corruptions I shall be rid of, which I could not be here;
> those croaking toads will fall off in a moment.’

And mentioning those great examples of faith, **Heb. 11**,

> ‘All these,’ said he, ‘died in faith. I could not have imagined I should ever 
> have had such a measure of faith in this hour; no, I could never have imagined
> it. My bow abides in strength.
> Is Christ divided? No, I have the whole of His righteousness; I am found in Him,
> not in my own righteousness, which is of the law, but in the righteousness which
> is of God, which is by faith of Jesus Christ, who loved me, and gave Himself for
> me.
> Christ cannot love me better than He doth; I think I cannot love Christ better
> than I do; I am swallowed up in God.’

Directing his speech to his two sons, he exhorted them to value the privilege of
the covenant. ‘Now,’ said he, ‘I shall be ever with the Lord.’

With this assurance of faith and fulness of joy, his soul left this world, and went
to see and enjoy the reality of that blessed state of glory, which in a discourse
on that subject he had so well demonstrated.

He died February 1679, and in the eightieth year of his age.”

–Thomas Goodwin, [_Memoir of Thomas Goodwin, D.D., Composed Out of His Own Papers and Memoirs, By His Son_](https://www.amazon.com/dp/1601788487?tag=toletaupanre-20)_,_
[_The Works of Thomas Goodwin, Volume 2_](https://www.amazon.com/dp/1601788487?tag=toletaupanre-20)(
Grand Rapids, MI: Reformation Heritage, 1861/2006), 2: lxxiv–lxxv.

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