be drawn from his own writings, of which he left behind him a very large number.* Many indeed have censured them, though it is certain that some of his books met with as general a reception as any that ever were printed; and the judicious Dr. Barrow, whose opinion all competent judges will admit, gave this judgment upon them, his practical writings were never mended, his contro

⚫versial seldom confuted.'

Thus far we are indebted to the authors of the Biographia Britannica, for what they have laboriously digested both from his own life written by Mr. Baxter himself, and from the abridgement of it, or additions to it, composed by others. His own life, published from his manuscripts by Mr. Matthew Sylvester, is not only a very necessary book to those who would know Mr. Baxter, but to all who would study and understand the history of the times in which Mr. Baxter lived. It seems the most abstracted from party-heat of any book of the kind that ever was written, which seems the more extraordinary, as few men have suffered greater inconveniences by party.

It

He was likewise honoured with the correspondence of many foreign divines, such as Mr. Brunsenius, chaplain to the Elector of Brandenbourg; Dr. Spencer, chaplain to the Elector of Saxony; the celebrated Monsieur Amyrald, and many others: Among whom we ought not to forget Dr. John Tillotson, then Dean of St. Paul's, and afterwards Archbishop of Canterbury.

* Dr. Bates tells us, that his books, which for number and variety of matter were sufficient to make a library, coutain a treasure of controversial, casuistical, positive, and practical divinity. Bishop Wilkins affirms, that he has cultivated every subject he has handled. Dr. Simon Patrick, Bishop of Ely, commends him as a useful and pious writer. But the Rev. Mr. Long of Exeter, whom we have quoted more than once, says, that it would be well for the world if they were all burned. According to his computation, they were in number fourscore: Dr. Calamy says he wrote above one hundred and twenty. Neither of these computations are exact. The author of this note hath seen a hundred and forty-five distinct treatises of Mr. Baxter's, whereof four were folio's, seventy-three quarto's, forty-nine octavo's, and nineteen in twelves and twenty-four's, besides single sheets, separate sermons, and at least five and twenty prefaces before other men's writings. The first book he published was his Aphorisms of Justification, and the Covenants, printed in 1649, and the last in his life-time, The Certainty of the World of Spirits, printed in 1691, so that he was an author two and fifty years. Amongst his most famous pieces were his Saints Everlasting Rest; his Call to the Unconverted, of which twenty thousand were sold in one year; it was translated into all the European languages, and into the Indian tongue: His Reformed Liturgy, his Catholic Theology, his Poor Man's Family Book, his Dying Thoughts, and his Paraphrase on the New Testament. His practical works have been printed altogether, in four vo lumes in folio.

It would, however, not be doing justice to the memory of Mr. Baxter, were we to pass over the account which his excellent friend Dr. Bates has given us of him. Nor would it be justice to our pious readers, for there is a vein of grace running through the detail of the eloquent author, which tends not only to inform the mind, but to warm and animate the heart by Mr. Baxter's example.

Speaking of his residence at Kidderminster, Dr. Bates proceeds to say, That there Mr. Baxter's ministry, by the Divine influence, was of admirable efficacy. The harvest answered the seed that was sowed. Before his coming, the place was like a piece of dry and barren earth, only ignorance and profaneness, as natives of the soil, were rife among them; but by the blessing of heaven upon his labour and cultivating, the face of paradise appeared there in all the fruits of righteousness. Many were translated from the state of polluted nature to the state of grace, and many were advanced to higher degrees of holiness. The bad were changed to good, and the good to better. Conversion is the excellent work of divine grace. The efficacy of the means is from the Supreme Mover. But GOD usually makes those ministers successful in that blesssd work, whose principal design and delight is to glorify him in the saving of souls. This was the reigning affection of his heart, and he was extraordinarily qualified to obtain his end.

His prayers were an effusion of the most melting expressions, and his intimate ardent affections to GOD: From the abundance of the heart his lips spake. His soul took wing for heaven, and wrapped up the souls of others with him. Never did I see or hear a holy minister address himself to GoD with more reverence and humility; with more respect to his glorious greatness; never with more zeal and fervency, correspondent to the infinite moment of his requests; nor with more filial affiance in the divine mercy.

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In his sermons there was a rare union of arguments and motives to convince the mind, and gain the heart: All the fountains of reason and persuasion were open to his discerning eye. There was no resisting the force of his discourses, without denying reason and divine revelation. He had a marvellous felicity and copiousness in speaking. There was a noble negligence in his style; for his great mind could not stoop to the affected eloquence of words. He despised flashy oratory: But his expressions were clear and powerful, so convincing the understand

ing so entering into the soul, so engaging the affections, that those were as deaf as adders, who were not charmed by so wise a Charmer. He was animated with the Holy Spirit, and breathed celestial fire, to inspire heart and life into dead sinners, and to melt the obdurate in their frozen tombs. Methinks I still hear him speak those powerful words: "A wretch that is condemned to die to-morrow, "cannot forget it: And yet, poor sinners, that continu"ally are uncertain to live an hour, and certain speedily "to see the majesty of the Lord, to their inconceivable "joy or terror, as sure as they now live upon earth; can "forget these things for which they have their memory ; " and which, one would think, should drown the mat"ters of the world, as the report of a cannon does a "whisper, or as the sun obscures the poorest glow-worm. "O wonderful stupidity of an unregenerate soul! O won"derful folly and distractedness of the ungodly! That

ever men can forget, I say again, that they can forget, "eternal joy, eternal woe, and the eternal GOD, and the "place of their eternal unchangeable abode, when they "stand even at the door, and there is but the thin veil "of flesh between them and that amazing sight, that "eternal gulph, and they are daily dying and stepping "in." Serm. before the H. Commons, 1660, V. iv. p. 729.

Besides, his wonderful diligence, in catechizing the particular families under his charge, was exceeding useful to plant religion in them. Personal instruction and application of divine truths have an excellent advantage and efficacy to insinuate, and infuse religion into the minds and hearts of men, and, by the conversion of parents and masters, to reform whole families that are under their immediate direction and government. While he was at Kidderminster, he wrote and published that accomplished model of an evangelical minister, styled "Gildas Salvianus, or the Reformed Pastor." In that book, he clears beyond all cavil, that the duty of ministers. is not confined to their study and the pulpit, but that they should make use of opportunities to instruct families within their cure, as it is said by the apostle, that he had kept back nothing from his hearers that was profitable, but had taught them publicly, and from house to house. Acts xx. 20, 21. The idea of a faithful minister, delineated in that book, was a copy taken from the life, from his own zealous example. His unwearied industry to do good to his flock, was answered by correspondent love and thankfulness. He was an angel in their esteem. He would often speak with great complacence of their dear afVOL. IV. fections:

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fections: And a little before his death, said, "He believed "they were more expressive of kindness to him, than the "Christian converts were to the apostle Paul, by what appears in his writings."

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While he remained at Kidderminster, his illustrious worth was not shaded in a corner, but dispersed its beams and influence round the country. By his counsel and excitation, the ministers in Worcestershire, episcopal, presbyterian, and congregational, were united, that, by their studies, labours, and advice, the doctrine and practice of religion, the truth and holiness of the gospel, might be preserved in all the churches committed to their charge. This association was of excellent use, the ends of church government were obtained by it, and it was a leading example to the ministers of other counties. Mr. Baxter was not above his brethren-ministers, by a superior title, or any secular advantage, but by his divine endowments and separate excellencies, his extraordinary wisdom, zeal, and fidelity: He was the soul of that happy society.

He continued among his beloved people, till the year 1660, when he came to London. A while after the king's restoration, there were many endeavours used in order to an agreement between the episcopal and presbyterian ministers. For this end several of the bishops elect, and of the ministers, were called to attend the king at Worcester House: There was read to them a declaration drawn up with great wisdom and moderation by the Lord Chancellor the Earl of Clarendon. I shall only observe, that in reading the several parts of the declaration, Dr. Morley was the principal manager of the conference among the bishops, and Mr. Baxter among the ministers: And one particular I cannot forget: it was desired by the ministers, that the bishops should exercise their church power with the counsel and consent of presbyters. This limiting of authority was so displeasing, that Dr. Cosins, then elect of Durham, said, If your Majesty grant this you will unbishop your bishops. Dr. Reynolds upon this produced the book, entitled, The Portraiture of his sa

cred Majesty in his Solitude and Sufferings,' and read the following passage: Not that I am against the managing of this presidency and authority of one man by the joint counsel and consent of many presbyters: I have offered to restore that, as a fit means to avoid those errors, corruptions, and partialities, which are incident to any one man: Also to avoid tyranny, which becomes no Christians, least of all church-men.

• Besides,

• Besides, it will be a means to take away that burden and ⚫odium of affairs, which may lie too heavy on one man's shoulders, as indeed I think it did formerly on the bishop's here.' The good doctor thought, that the judgment of the king's afflicted and enquiring father, would have been of great moment to incline him to that temperament: But the king presently replied, All that is in that book is not gospel.' My Lord Chancellor prudently moderated in that matter, that the bishops, in weighty causes, should have the assistance of the presbyters.

Mr. Baxter considering the state of our affairs in that time, was well pleased with that declaration. He was of Calvin's mind, who judiciously observes, upon our Saviour's words, That the Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend: Qui ad extirpandum quicquid displicet præposterè festinant, antevertant Christi judicium, et ereptum angelis officium sibi temerè usurpant.* Besides, that declaration granted such a freedom to conscientious ministers, that were unsatisfied as to the old conformity, that if it had been observed, it had prevented the doleful division that succeeded after. But when there was a motion made in the House of Commons, that the declaration might pass into an act, it was opposed by one of the Secretaries of State, which was a sufficient indication of the king's averseness to it.

After the declaration, there were many conferences at the Savoy between the bishops and some doctors of their party, with Mr. Baxter and some other ministers for an agreement, wherein his zeal for peace was most conspicu ous; but all was in vain. Of the particulars that were debated, he has given an account in print.

Mr. Baxter after his coming to London, during the time of liberty, did not neglect that which was the principal exercise of his life, the preaching the gospel, being always sensible of his duty of saving souls. He preached at St. Dunstan's on the Lord's Days in the afternoon. I remember one instance of his firm faith in the divine providence, and his fortitude when he was engaged in his ministry there. The church was old, and the people were apprehensive of some danger in meeting in it: And while Mr. Baxter was preaching, something in the steeple fell down, and the noise struck such a terror into

They that make too much haste to redress at once all things that are amiss, anticipate the judgment of Christ, and rashly usurp the office of the angels.