The Believer's Comfort: An excerpt from The Saints' Everlasting Rest by Richard Baxter - Tapa blanda

“The Saints’ Everlasting Rest” was written at a time when Richard Baxter was facing death through illness. The book bears the stamp of a holy yet vigorous mind. Rooted firmly in the King James Bible, the glories and joys of heaven are discussed with an excitement that makes the writing timeless and as appealing to 21st century readers as it was to Baxter’s 17th century parishioners. The excerpt here published as “The Believer’s Comfort” serves as a good introduction to Baxter’s works, and, more importantly, while challenging the reader both intellectually and morally, offers comfort to those facing death or who have been bereaved. The selector and editor has modernised Baxter's language to the minimal extent and inserted Bible references to assist those who are coming to the Gospel for the first time or who are less familiar than Baxter’s readers with the Authorised Version of the Bible in English. Baxter’s own prose style mirrors that of this 17th century translation of Scripture and is satisfying in both its literary and spiritual aspects. The excerpt is meant to assist those who, for whatever reason, are unable or disinclined to attempt the original complete work in the first instance.

Richard Baxter (1615-1691) was an English Puritan divine who gained prominence as a preacher, theologian, ecclesiastical politician and devotional writer. He was born in Shropshire and died in London. His most fruitful years were spent as a pastor and preacher in Kidderminster (1641-1660). During his time there this small dark town of some 5000 people, notorious for its drunkenness, ignorance and immorality, came to be described as “a colony of heaven”. Invited as a preacher by disgruntled church members to supplement the infrequent sermons of the local vicar, Baxter visited every home and wrote here some of his most famous books and hymns. Philip De Vere is a retired clergyman living in Kidderminster.