Richard Baxter, author of 'The Saints' Everlasting Rest' and of
other works to the extent of sixty octavo volumes, was called by
Doddridge "the English Demosthenes." He was born November 12th.
1615, in Shropshire, England, and was admitted to orders in the
English Church in 1638. He refused, however, to take the oath of
"Submission to Archbishops. Bishops," etc., and established himself
as the pastor of a dissenting church in Kidderminster. He was twice
imprisoned for refusing to conform to the requirements of the
Established Church. He died in 1691. One of his critics says of
him:--
"The leading characteristics of Baxter are, eminent piety and vigor
of intellect, keenness of logic, burning power and plainness of
language, melting pathos, cloudless perspicuity, graceful
description, and a certain vehemence of feeling which brings home
his words with an irresistible force."
The sermon here extracted from was preached first at Kidderminster
and afterwards at London, and it is said it produced "a profound
sensation." As published entire, under the title 'Making Light of
Christ and Salvation,' it makes a considerable volume.