BAXTER (Richard), an eminent divine among the nonconformists, was born at Rowton in Shropshire, November 12. 1615; and distinguished himself by
Baxter. by his exemplary life, his pacific and moderate principles, and his numerous writings. He was remarkable for his piety, even when he was very young. Upon the opening of the long parliament, he was chosen vicar of Kidderminster. In the heat of the civil wars he withdrew from that town to Coventry, and preached to the garrison and inhabitants. When Oliver Cromwell was made protector, he would by no means comply with his measures, though he preached once before him. He came to London just before the deposing of Richard Cromwell, and preached before the parliament the day before they voted the return of king Charles II. who upon his restoration appointed him one of his chaplains in ordinary. He assisted at the conference in the Savoy, as one of the commissioners for stating the fundamentals in religion, and then drew up a reformed liturgy. He was offered the bishopric of Hereford; which he refused; affecting no higher preferment than the liberty of continuing minister of Kidderminster; which he could not obtain, for he was not permitted to preach there above twice or thrice after the restoration. Whereupon he returned to London, and preached occasionally about the city, till the act of uniformity took place. During the plague in 1665 he retired into Buckinghamshire; but afterward returned to Acton, where he staid till the act against conventicles expired; and then his audience was so large, that he wanted room. Upon this he was committed to prison; but procuring an habeas corpus, he was discharged. After the indulgence in 1672, he returned to London; and in 1682 he was seized for coming within five miles of a corporation. In 1684 he was seized again; and in the reign of king James II. was committed prisoner to the king's bench, and tried before the lord chief justice Jeffries for his Paraphrase on the New Testament, which was called a scandalous and seditious book against the government. He continued in prison two years; from whence he was at last discharged, and had his fine remitted by the king. He died December the 8th, 1691; and was buried in Christ-Church.—He was honoured with the friendship of some of the greatest and best men in the kingdom, as the earl of Lauderdale, the earl of Balcarra, lord chief justice Hales, Dr Tillotson, &c. and held correspondence with some of the most eminent foreign divines.—He wrote above 120 books, and had above 60 written against him. The former, however, it should seem, were greatly preferable to the latter; since Dr Barrow, an excellent judge, says, that "his practical writings were never mended, his controversial seldom confused."—Among his most famous works were, 1. The Saints Everlasting Rest. 2. Call to the Unconverted, of which 20,000 were sold in one year; and it was translated not only into all the European languages, but into the Indian tongue. 3. Poor Man's Family Book. 4. Dying Thoughts; and, 5. A Paraphrase on the New Testament. His practical works have been printed in four volumes folio.