drove from her bosom such a son, with his two thousand brethren of the clergy."

Baxter's life was one of great literary activity and of rare pastoral fidelity. Kidderminster, where he labored for sixteen years, was transformed through his holy ministrations. At the Restoration he became, for a brief period, chaplain to Charles II, and was offered the bishopric of Hereford, but declined it. His conscience afterwards carried him into the Nonconformist ministry. He died in 1691.

For our day and time some parts of his writings seem like the clothing of the seventeenth century, a little out of date. Nevertheless, we can readily understand why Dr. Barrow should write, "His practical writings were never mended, and his controversial ones seldom confuted"; why Archbishop Usher should urge him to write more and more concerning spiritual things; and why Robert Boyle should say, "He was the fittest man of the age for a casuist, because he feared no man's displeasure, nor hoped for any man's preferment.".

His was a life of struggle and hard vicissitude, as well as of heavenly communion. Out of the depths, looking up to glorious heights, he was led to sing:

665 Lord, it belongs not to my care
Whether I die or live;

To love and serve Thee is my share,
And this Thy grace must give.

If life be long, oh, make me glad
The longer to obey;

If short, no laborer is sad

To end his toilsome day.

Christ leads me through no darker rooms
Than He went through before;

And he that to God's kingdom comes

Must enter by this door.

Come, Lord, when grace hath made me meet

Thy blessed face to see:

For if Thy work on earth be sweet,

What will Thy glory be?

Then I shall end my sad complaints
And weary, sinful days,

And join with the triumphant saints
That sing my Saviour's praise.

My knowledge of that life is small,
The eye of faith is dim;

But 'tis enough that Christ knows all,
And I shall be with Him.