The person of Mr Baxter was tall, slender, and stooping ; his countenance grave and composed, somewhat inclining to a smile ; his eye piercing, his speech articulate, and his deportment plain. His constitution was weak and sickly through the whole of his life ; yet, by the united influence of temperance and industry, he was able to undergo a most extraor dinary degree of labour, both in writing and in preach ing. He expressed himself in conversation with great propriety and ease ; was remarkable for his intrepidi ty and composure on all occasions ; and hence it was very strongly remarked of him, by a learned opponent, that " he could say what he would, and could prove what he said." Both in his political and theological character, he was always friendly to conciliatory mea sures ; and hence he has been reviled by the violent, but respected by the temperate, of all parties. His sentiments of moderation, however, were not the re sult of a feeble or fearful mind ; and;while he was anxious to reconcile, he was not afraid to resist. He laboured to promote universal charity and peace, at a period when it was accounted a crime not to be fierce in support of some sect or other ; but, at the same time, as was said of him by Mr Boyle, " he feared no man's displeasure, nor hoped for any man's preferment." He boldly opposed the progress of revolutionary- proceedings, and of Antinomian errors ; and the severities to which he was subjected in the latter part of his life, were not owing to any suspi cion of his disaffection to government, but to his up right avowal of nonconformists principles. As a complete refutation of the calumnious charges of se dition and rebellion which have been brought against him, it is sufficient to mention the many eminent characters, both in church and state, whose patron age and intimacy he enjoyed to the last ; such as the Earl of. Lauderdale, the Earl of Balcarras, Chief Justice Matthew Hales, Alderman Ashurst, Sir John Maynard, Sir James Langham, Sir Edward Harley, Archbishop Tillotson, &c. He was, in short, a man of the greatest zeal in religion, without any ten dency to faction or fanaticism ; and possessed the greatest simplicity of manners, with the utmost firm ness of mind and uniformity of character.
With respect to the literary attainments of Baxter, he says of himself, that, except the Latin, Greek, and a slight acquaintance with the Hebrew, he had no great skill in languages ; that he had no taste whatever for the mathematics ; but that he was par attached to the study of•logic, metaphysics, pneumatology, and the divinity of the schools. He was more desirous to have the knowledge of things than of words, and he possessed a great share of solid learning. His works-were so very voluminous, that it is not yet ascertained what was the precise number of his writings ; but be is known to have cpmposed more than 145 distinct treatises ; of which four were folios, 73 quartos, 19 12mos and 2lmos, besides single sheets, separate sermons, and a of pre faces to the publications of other authors. A parti
cular account of his writings may be seen in the Biog. Briton. Notes P and X ; and in Calamy's Life of Baxter, vol. i. p. 691. The most useful of his productions arc, his Catholic Theology; which was intended to compose the disputes between the Calvin ists ind Arininians ;—his Reformed Pastor; which has been highly esteemed by many eminent divines ; —his Call to the Unconverted; of which 20,000 copies were sold in one year ; which was translated into most of the European languages ; and of wh:ch, Dr Watts has said, that he would rather be the au thor than of Milton's Paradise Lost ;—his Christian Directory, or Body of P2 at-11ml Divinity; Everlast ing Rest; Dying Thoughts ; Poor Man's Family Book; Paraphrase on the New Testament; Converse with God in Solitude; and Narrative of his own lrfe• and Times. The most of his practical pieces have been published in four volumes folio ; judicious abridg ments of the best them have been made by Mr Fawcett ; and a new edition of them all is now car rying on, which is expected to be completed in 16 vols. Svo, one of which will contain a portrait of the author, with a history of his life and times.
The works of Baxter, like their author during his life, have been very variously estimated ; but they are highly commended by the most competent and unprejudiced judges. " He cultivated every subject," says Bishop Wilkins, " that he handled. " His practical writings were never mended," says Dr Bar row, " and his controversial ones seldom refuted." " I cannot but commend," says Bishop Gaudens, " the learning, candour, and ingenuity of Mr Bax ter." " I cannot forbear looking upon him," says Dr Doddridge, " as one of the greatest orators, both with regard to copiousness, acuteness, and energy, that our nation hath produced." " As an useful writer, as well as a successful controversialist," says Dr Adam Clarke, " Mr Baxter has deservedly ranked in the highest order of the divines of the 17th cen tury. His works have done more to improve the understanding and mend the hearts of his country men, than those of any other writer of his age. While the English language remains, and scriptural Christianity and piety to God are regarded, his works will not cease to be read and prized by the wise and pious of every denomination." And, when Mr Boswell inquired of Dr Johnson, which of Bax ter's works he should peruse, " read any of. them," was the reply ; " they are all good." He is indeed generally prolix, and often metaphysical ; but such was the taste of the times in which he lived ; and his writings are certainly distinguished by amplitude of thought, vivacity of imagination, strong and clear good sense, fervent devotion, and pathetic address. See Biog. Britannica. Gen. Biography. Calamy's Life of Baxter. Silvester's Life of Baxter. Bax ter's Narrative of his own Life and Times. (q)