found."

RICHARD BAXTER (1615-1691)

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.

UNWILLINGNESS TO IMPROVE

Beloved hearers, the office that God bath called us to, is by
declaring the glory of his grace, to help under Christ to the saving
of men's souls, I hope you think not that I come hither to-day on
any other errand. The Lord knows I had not set a foot out of doors
but in hope to succeed in this work for your souls. I have
considered, and often considered, what is the matter that so many
thousands should perish when God hath done so much for their
salvation; and I find this that is mentioned in my text is the
cause. It is one of the wonders of the world, that when God hath so
loved the world as to send his Son, and Christ hath made a
satisfaction by his death sufficient for them all and offereth the
benefits of it so freely to them, even without money or price, that
yet the most of the world should perish; yea, the most of those
that are thus called by his word! Why, here is the reason, when
Christ hath done all this, men make light of it. God hath showed
that he is not unwilling; and Christ hath showed that he is not
unwilling that men should be restored to God's favor and be saved;
but men are actually unwilling themselves. God takes not pleasure
in the death of sinners, but rather that they return and live. But