Books by Richard Baxter

Richard Baxter's passionate plea to unbelievers, calling upon them to convert to Christianity, is as thought-provoking and religiously profound today as when first published centuries ago.An unabashed and compelling exhortation, A Call to the Unconverted marries the author's keen grasp of logic and reason with his utmost admiration and love for Jesus Christ. The combination of Baxter's astute mind and his veneration of the Son of God makes this treatise a true classic of Christian literature: from the moment the text first appeared in 1669, the reception among Christians and non-Christians alike was appreciative.For Baxter, Christianity is the one and true faith upon the Earth. Whilst acknowledging the essential values imparted in other religions - such as the virtues of human conduct; kindness, compassion, humility, honesty, courage - Baxter is eager to emphasize that Christ is the authentic embodiment of belief.

Richard Baxter's passionate plea to unbelievers, calling upon them to convert to Christianity, is as thought-provoking and religiously profound today as when first published centuries ago.An unabashed and compelling exhortation, A Call to the Unconverted marries the author's keen grasp of logic and reason with his utmost admiration and love for Jesus Christ. The combination of Baxter's astute mind and his veneration of the Son of God makes this treatise a true classic of Christian literature: from the moment the text first appeared in 1669, the reception among Christians and non-Christians alike was appreciative.For Baxter, Christianity is the one and true faith upon the Earth. Whilst acknowledging the essential values imparted in other religions - such as the virtues of human conduct; kindness, compassion, humility, honesty, courage - Baxter is eager to emphasize that Christ is the authentic embodiment of belief.

We do not arrogate tu ourselves so much as to suppose, that our commendation can add any thing to the authority of such a name as that of Richard Baxter, He belonged to a class of men, whose characters and genius now universally venerated, seem to have been most peculiarly adapted, by Divine Providence, to the circumstances of their age and country...

Richard Baxter was one of the most important leaders of the Puritan church in England in the 17th century. Born in Shropshire, England sometime in 1615, Baxter was poorly educated as a child, but diligently pursued his education as a young man and decided to enter the church at age 23. He was ordained as a pastor in 1638 and began a long and prolific career as a church leader, poet, theologian and writer. It is estimated he wrote as many as 141 books over his lifetime before his death in 1691. Baxter was appointed vicar of Kidderminster in 1647 and would remain in this post for nearly 19 years, except for those times during the English Civil War when he was forced to flee due to his religious beliefs. During his time at Kidderminster Baxter refined his ideas for reforming the ministry. First appearing as early as 1656, "The Reformed Pastor" was written by Baxter to assist other ministers in performing their duties to their congregations and to lead by example by living lives of faith and virtue. Baxter's teachings have inspired and influenced ministers for centuries and continue to provide a strong moral guide for religious leaders to this day. This edition is printed on premium acid-free paper.

Richard Baxter's The Saints' Everlasting Rest (1650) has long been recognized as one of the great classics of Christian devotion, and it is by this book that he is best known. The original work consists of some eight hundred thousand words-a clear example of Baxter's prolific pen-yet in Baxter's own life-time it reached twelve editions! First abridged in 1754 by John Wesley, in the Christian Library, five years later another abridgement was made by Benjamin Fawcett, and innumerable reprints of this have since been issued. The book has also been translated into Welsh, Gaelic, German and French. The purpose of this abridgement, first published in 1962, was to present the work in a form suitable to the modern reader. No change has been made in the text of the passages selected from the original work, and the spirit and language of Baxter have been so preserved that the movement of his thought and style not only remains unimpaired but stands out even more clearly.

This is the first modern edition of A Holy Commonwealth, which was written in 1659 by the Puritan minister Richard Baxter (1615-91). It is a candid confession as to why a conservative Puritan fought for Parliament in the Civil War and gave his support to the Cromwells.