A Short Biography of Richard Baxter
Contents:
This is mirrored in a saying Baxter is known to have used often: In necessary things, unity; in doubtful things, liberty, in all things, charity. In , Baxter fell seriously ill and even thought he might die. Despite the fact that the only book he had access to during this time was his Bible, he penned one of his most memorable works on heaven, Saint's Everlasting Rest.
A Short Biography of Richard Baxter - Kindle edition by J.C. Ryle. Download it once and read it on your Kindle device, PC, phones or tablets. Use features like. Richard Baxter (12 November – 8 December ) was an English Puritan church leader .. The Baxter Monument in Rowton, Shropshire (the village of his birth) is a squat stone obelisk with a bronze plaque on which is written "Richard.
This work, as will be discussed below, demonstrates his devotional side. For what may seem a minor offense today, Baxter was imprisoned for preaching without a license. In some communities, such as Baxter's Kidderminster, many left the Anglican churches for private Bible studies like those that Baxter offered in his home. For this simple offense, Baxter and his wife were imprisoned together for 18 months.
Richard Baxter
He remained in good cheer and was in good company, as the famous Puritan John Bunyan was imprisoned for the same offense. In addition to his pastoral duties, Baxter was a prolific writer. His works are not considered profound or original theologically, per se, but they were designed to be more practical and devotional. His success in this endeavor is without question, given his most popular works remains in print and are still of interest to scholars.
One of his most-read books is The Reformed Pastor , which was designed as a manual for pastors. Baxter lays out the expectations of pastors, urging them to take their calling seriously and to govern their church with integrity and seriousness. Another notable work is his massive A Christian Directory. This classic presents Baxter's theological views, and it's a pragmatic commentary on the Christian life written for the common reader. It is often pointed out that this work contains more than 1 million words.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Baster's more devotional work is Saint's Everlasting Rest. This particular work was written while he was seriously ill in , which caused him to leave the army. Seriously weak and even expecting to die, Baxter penned his thoughts on heaven. It was designed not only as a work of self-reflection, but also as encouragement to others.
Baxter's memoir, Reliquiae Baxterianae , covers his life from the s to the s and is considered an invaluable primary source for English studies in the 17th century. Given that Baxter found himself in the midst of so many key events, this work has enduring value for historians and theologians alike.
The fact that these particular works are still printed and read today speaks to their durability and longevity. Baxter, then, is not simply a key figure in Puritan history, but also a window into the politics and spiritual controversies of 17th-century England. In some respects, Baxter was not outstanding. He lived in an age of literary giants such as John Bunyan and John Milton. Yet what stood out, much like his contemporary Bunyan, was his common touch. In an age of religious and political turmoil, Baxter emphasized understanding and charity to those on the other side of the debate.
His writings, while not philosophically profound, were practical, personal, devotional, and applicable to future generations of pastors. At his heart, he first and foremost remained a pastor. Baxter died in and was widely mourned by the Puritan community. Richard Baxter is best remembered as a peacemaker and uncompromising voice of reason in the politically and theologically turbulent century England.
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In his nearly 20 years of service as pastor in Kidderminster in Worcestershire, England, he shepherded his church and community with wisdom. He served as a chaplain during the English Civil War, but also supported the restoration of the monarchy. Despite this support, he was imprisoned for preaching without a license, which made him powerful enemies. Perhaps the most important and enduring part of his legacy was his voluminous writings.
In an age of pastoral and literary giants, Baxter carved out a distinguished place for himself. This is best reflected in the fact that his life and works are still studied today. To unlock this lesson you must be a Study. Login here for access. Keeble points out, Baxter must have had only one audience in mind when he wrote: But if any will call Meer Christians by the name of a Party , because they take up with Meer Christianity, Creed, and Scripture , and will not be of any dividing or contentious Sect, I am of that Party which is so against Parties.
So when discussing the contending parties in debates over church government he writes:. His agenda here is also observable in the way he categorizes conformists and non-conformists after the settlement of His taxonomy looks roughly like this: It is always instructive to note how people divide up their world, as it tells us something of their perceptions and prejudices. He clearly has little real sympathy with the conformists.
The Presbyterians who conformed he described thus: As for the Nonconformists, Baxter is also careful to make distinctions. They are described positively as peaceful, reasonable, moderate men: He just as clearly wishes to distinguish himself from many of the Independents.
Thus we see that Baxter positions himself as a most moderate and peaceable fellow in contradistinction to various extremists on both the left and the right. Typically he can find something praiseworthy in some of those to either side of him Latitudinarians and conforming Presbyterians; Presbyterians and some Independents but not to certain others intolerable Sects and Independents who are too fond of divisions; carnally-motivated Conformists.
And yet Baxter retains a fascinating power to surprise the reader too. Having described what happened on Bartholomew Day and the ejection and silencing of ministers, he manages not to show immediate sympathy but to censure many of them:. And thus Men were puft up by other Mens sinfulness, and kept from a kindly humbling of themselves. Thus we see the truth of his assertion that he was no merely partisan thinker or puritan apologist. The point is, though, that it can be used. Armed with a cautious distrust, and aware of potential areas of distortion, we can extract from this difficult book an understanding of Richard Baxter that is both accurate and illuminating.
The Reliquiae Baxterianae is equally useful, when handled with equal sensitivity, as a source for the Restoration religious settlement. Despite its flaws, it remains the premier and vital starting point for any serious engagement with this crucial episode in English Church history. A reading of the original or of one of the more modern abridgements is highly recommended.
Richard Baxter , a Nonconformist cleric who, although enduring persecution after , was by instinct and much of his practice a reconciler, published untiringly on religious issues. Email already in use. Any text you add should be original, not copied from other sources. Like this lesson Share. Ecumenism in the 17th and 18th centuries English literature In English literature: Please improve this article by removing excessive or inappropriate external links, and converting useful links where appropriate into footnote references. Acknowledgement of some Ministers of London for the Declaration in Gould, op.
The Ejection and Persecution of the Puritans London: CUP, , page 6. Clarendon Press, pages ff. Bell and Hyman, pages Burnet, History of his Own Time London: By November his minister at St. He also reports briefly on the restoration of the Bishops to the Lords page He also narrates the festivities on the Thames the following Saturday, with 10, barges and boats, which must have been a great distraction to the populace page Matthew Sylvester, , Part II pages His knowledge of the puritans both presbyterian and congregational and otherwise is seen in his lists of ejected ministers and descriptions of them in Part III pages For his education, Baxter attended Wroxeter grammar school under John Owen.
In lieu of going on to study at a university, he continued his learning through private study.
Richard Baxter: Biography & Books
In Baxter entered into the ministry as a deacon, and in the years that followed he would go on to hold offices of curate, lecturer paid preacher , army chaplain, and vicar. His work was so effective that nearly the whole town was converted. The ministry philosophy behind his work here became the basis for his classic book The Reformed Pastor.
The great religious and political upheavals in 17th century England had their effect on Baxter as they did for so many of his fellow Puritans.
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The Act of Uniformity removed him from the Church of England when he was nearly 50 years old, and he never again entered the pastorate. He was also jailed on at least two occasions for nonconformist teaching.