-Baxter's refusal of a bishopric-scheme to introduce The conference having failed, the Presbyterian minis- The act excluding the non-conformists-its conse- quences-other stringent measures against them-the plague-measures of alleviation defeated-the great fire in London-advantage of it in opening a door for Baxter's marriage-temporary imprisonment-literary labours-Lauderdale's proposal, and Baxter's reply- penal laws against non-conformists dispensed with- Parliament does not concur-test act-Baxter's preach- Death of Mrs. Baxter-her character-age, infirmities and persecutions of Mr. Baxter-his trial before Judge ADVERTISEMENT. In making this abridgment, no change has been made in the facts, as stated by the original author, but often in the reflections and inferences from these facts, others have been substituted in the place of those made by Mr. Orme, and many of his have been entirely omitted. When his language is used to any extent, notice is given of it to the reader, and marks of quotation prefixed; but often, in condensing the narrative, his words are retained without any particular acknowledg ment. 1 * LIFE OF THE REV. RICHARD BAXTER. CHAPTER 1. His early life-conversion-entrance into the ministry of the Episcopal church-settles at Kidderminstercontroversies of the time-battle of Edgehill-compelled to retire from his charge-fanatical sects. RICHARD BAXTER was born in the county of Salop, England, Nov. 12th, 1615. In his earliest years, while he was chargeable with faults common to children, he was the subject of many serious impressions. He lived for years with his grandfather, but at the age of ten returned to the house of his father, who then resided at a village within five miles of Shrewsbury. He was extremely unfortunate in his teachers, some of whom were shamefully immoral, and others incompetent ; 7 while all of them greatly neglected his in. struction. He also missed the advantages of a University education, by a proposal made to his parents to place him with Mr. Richard Wickstead, chaplain to the Council at Ludlow, with whom he remained above a year, and then returned to his father. After this, at the request of Lord Newport, he went to Wroxeter, where he taught in the free school, for six months, during the illness of one of his former schoolmasters. When he had reached his eighteenth year, Mr. Wickstead prevailed on him to relinquish his studies, and seek his fortune at court. He accordingly went to Whitehall, with a recommendation to Sir Henry Herbert, then Master of the Revels, by whom he was kindly received. But after a month's attendance, finding the kind of life which he must there live, little to his taste, and still feeling a strong inclination to the holy ministry, he returned home, and resumed his studies with great diligence; until at the instance of Sir Richard Foley, he was made teacher of the free school at Dudley. While in this situation, he had the opportunity of perusing several practical treatises, by which means he was brought to a |