The last issue of CT explored the life of England’s great Puritan preacher Richard Baxter (“Go Fetch Baxter,” Dec. 13, 1991). Baxter’s writings, respected by ministers the world over, contain many gems of wisdom. This issue’s Reflections page is devoted to some of those riches.
Living As We Preach
Take heed, therefore, to yourselves first, that you be that which you persuade your hearers to be, and believe that which you persuade them to believe.… It is a palpable error of some ministers, who make such a disproportion between their teaching and their living; who study hard to preach exactly, and study little or not at all to live exactly.… We must study as hard how to live well, as how to preach well.
The Reformed Pastor (1656);
abridged edition (1829)
Know What You’Re Saying
They that cannot speak clearly, seldom clearly understand what to speak.
Catholick Theologie, II, 254
A Bad Job If The Gospel Isn’T True
I profess to you, I should take it but for a paltry profession, to ride up and down to preach the gospel, and trouble the minds of men in vain, and get the ill will of most of our neighbours, and tire and spend ourselves in this work, if it were not certainly true, which we must tell them; and if the gospel were a fable or human device. If the word of God were not true, ministers have the most unworthy employment upon earth.
A Treatise of Conversion (1657);
The Practical Works of Richard
Baxter, ed. George Virtue, 1838
Mere Possessions
Naked came I into the world, and naked must I go out. But I never wanted less what man can give, than when men had taken all.
The Autobiography of Richard
Baxter, abridged by J. M. Lloyd
Thomas, ed. N. H. Keeble
Pride Is A Contradiction
Oh what a constant companion, what a tyrannical commander, what a sly and subtle insinuating enemy, is this sin of pride!… Is not pride the sin of devils—the first-born of hell? Is it not that wherein Satan’s image doth much consist? And is it to be tolerated in men who are so engaged against him and his kingdom as we are? The very design of the gospel is to abase us; and the work of grace is begun and carried on in humiliation. Humility is not a mere ornament of a Christian, but an essential part of the new creature. It is a contradiction in terms, to be a Christian, and not humble.
The Reformed Pastor (1656);
abridged edition (1829)
Making And Bearing Crosses
And, on the contrary, I am more apprehensive that sufferings must be the Church’s most ordinary lot, and Christians indeed must be self-denying cross-bearers, even where there are none but formal nominal Christians to be the cross-makers.
The Autobiography of Richard
Baxter, abridged by J. M. Lloyd
Thomas, ed. N. H. Keeble
Wrongfully Interpreting Scripture
A new and forced exposition which no reader dreameth of till it be put into his head, is usually to be suspected, lest art deceive us.
Christian Directory: Christian Ecclesiastics (1673); The Practical Works of Richard Baxter, ed.
George Virtue, 1838
The Vanity Of Things
I am much less regardful of the approbation of man, and set much lighter by contempt or applause than I did long ago. I am oft suspicious that this is not only from the increase of self-denial and humility, but partly from my being glutted and surfeited with human applause. And all worldly things appear most vain and unsatisfactory when we have tried them most.
The Autobiography of Richard
Baxter, abridged by J. M. Lloyd
Thomas, ed. N. H. Keeble
Preaching For Life
Still thinking I had little time to live,
My fervent heart to win men’s souls did strive;
I preached, as never sure to preach again,
And as a dying Man to dying Men.
“Love Breathing Thanks and Praise,” Poetical Fragments
Transcript Of The Heart
In commenting on the success of his work The Saints’ Everlasting Rest, Baxter said: “And I found that the transcript of the heart hath the greatest force on the hearts of others.”
The Autobiography of Richard
Baxter, abridged by J. M. Lloyd
Thomas, ed. N. H. Keeble
Words To The Dying
[My constant sickness] made me study and preach things necessary, and a little stirred up my sluggish heart to speak to sinners with some compassion, as a dying man to dying men.
The Autobiography of Richard
Baxter, abridged by J. M. Lloyd
Thomas, ed., N. H. Keeble
