This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1830 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER V. 1646--1660. Baxter resumes his Labours at Kidderminster--His account of Public Affairs till the Death of Charles I.--His conduct while in Kidderminster towards Parliament--Towards the Royal Party--His Ministry at Kidderminster--His Employments--His Success--His Advantages--Remarks on the style of his preaching--His public and private exertions--Their lasting effects. In the fourth chapter, a full account is given of the views and conduct of Baxter while he was connected with the victorious array of the Commonwealth. His exertions to promote its spiritual interests, were indefatigable and disinterested. With the most patriotic principles and aims, he devoted himself to counteract, what he considered the factious and sectarian dispositions of the soldiers and their leaders; while he experienced nothing but sorrow and disappointment as the fruit of his labours. His bodily health, always feeble andbroken, at length sunk under the pressure of his circumstances, and he was compelled reluctantly to retire from the stormy atmosphere of a camp to the calmer region of a pastoral cure. The preceding- chapter details the origin, character, and influence, of the principal and the minor religious parties which made a figure during the civil wars, or enjoyed an ephemeral notoriety during the Commonwealth. To all that concerned both the civil and religious interests of his country, Baxter was powerfully alive. He had the soul of a patriot as well as of a Christian; and often was he ready to weep tears of blood over the civil confusion and the religious distractions of his country. Yet were these halcyon days, in regard to the enjoyment of religious privileges, compared with those which preceded and followed them. After various digressions he...