Christian Reader1
THE Love of Christ in his holy2
ones, and the great usefulness3
of such History, command4
me to take it as a pleasing office,5
to commend this real description of6
a Saint, to thy serious perusal and imitation.7
The good acceptance and success of8
the late published Life and death of9
Mr. Joseph Alleine, the more encourageth10
me to serve thee in this. As to the11
credit of the Narrative, let it be enough12
to tell thee, that his worthy Brother13
Mr. James Janeway intimately acquainted14
with his most secret life is the writer15
of it I have no hand in it my16
self And if thou live in or near London,17

A 3

where he is now well known, I will not18
be beholden to thee to believe it; especially,19
if thou also know the other most20
credible arrestors. I know that many21
such Histories, shew more what the writer22
could say, than what the Person was23
or did: But here both He and his Relations,24
and those whom he lived with,25
were all so near us, and are many of26
them yet so intimately known to me,27
and others, that there is no place for28
doubting left us.29
I confess such instances are very sad30
to my thoughts, while I am desiring31
the welfare of mankind on earth. To32
hear of the death of an Infant, who33
might have proved we know not what;34
or of an useless person, or of an aged35
Christian, who hath profitably run36
out the course of nature, is nothing so37
sad to me, as to hear of the removal of38
such excellent young men, when they39
are prepared for their work, and just beginning40
it! But God is infinitely Wise,41
and Just, and more Merciful too than we42
can be. He knoweth what he doth and43
why; and is accountable to none about44
the measure of his benefits, nor the reasons45
of his various disposals. But the46
great Judgements which since his death47
have befallen these Kingdoms, do partly 48
tell us that it is no wonder, if such men49
were taken from the evil to come, of50
whom the world hath so notoriously declared 51
it self unworthy. It is fitter for52
such lights to shine in Heaven, than to53
be put under a bushel here on earth.54
And for himself, he hath run long55
enough who hath toucht the prize: He56
hath failed long enough who is come safe57
to the harbour: And he hath lived long58
enough, who is readiest to die? Though59
I wonder at the lengthning of my own60
life, which that been threatned by God61
and Man these thirty three years or more,62
yet, alas, how much less have I lived63
than this man did, who am yet far short64
of his Heavenly preparations? I am ashamed65
to read that any thing of mine was66
a help to his attainments, and to find67
that at almost sixty years of age, I am68
much below what he was raised to at69
twenty three. O that God would give70
my frozen age, such warm reflexions from71
these his remains, that according to my72
need I may receive more from him that73

A 4

is dead, than ever he did from me alive!74
If his own Reverend Father received so75
much from him, why may not I also have76
some quickning even by the dead,77
through the fruits of the spirit left behind78
him, and the same spirits quickning79
influx upon me? And may I but so Die,80
how harmless, how welcome will Death81
be?82
We think it great pity, that he lived83
to preach but two Semons in the world!84
That some poor ignorant dull Congregation,85
had not been instructed and awakened86
by his Doctrine; and his spiritual87
fervour had not by dispersed writings, enflamed88
the souls of thousands with the89
same Heavenly Love and Zeal. But who90
knoweth yet but that this one Narrative91
of his Holy exemplary Life and Death,92
may do as much as more numerous or Voluminous93
writings? The many Volumes94
of holy Lives, of antient Doctors, Martyrs,95
and later Divines, Philosophers and96
others in Germany, England and other97
Lands, have done much good, and are98
still very useful, and a pleasant and profitable99
recreation, O how much better100
than Play-books and Romances! But101
experience tells us, that God still poureth102
forth as large measures of his spirit, as103
heretofore he did. If holy Augustines104
life, after so much pollution, and holy105
Hieroms life, qui fatetur se non fuisse virginem,106
were so laudible and exemplary;107
O how much praise do I owe to God, for108
his grace upon his Servants, who am109
yet acquainted with so great a number of110
holy laborious faithful Ministers, who I111
have great reason to believe, not only112
to have all their lives been free from all113
gross heynous sins, but also to have laid114
out their zeal, their time, their labours,115
so sincerely and self-denyingly for God, and116
the good of souls, as that I cannot but117
hope that, if those who are against their118
Preaching of the Gospel, were but as well119
acquainted with them as I am, they120
would be their friends and forward to promote121
their work.122
I know one Temptation the Reader is123
like to meet with, to hinder his profiting124
by this example: Even to think that125
Mr. Alleine and Mr. Janeway by Overdoing126
did but cut short their own Lives;127
and that their excessive labours in meditation,128
prayer and other duties did deprive129
the Church of the benefit of much130
more, which they might have lived to do:131
and therefore that such examples are not132
to be imitated, but stand as warnings to133
us, not to overdo and destroy our bodies134
as they did. To which I answer, 1. I135
am one my self, that wish both of them136
had done somewhat less, in that part of137
duty which hurt the body, and overmatched138
their strength. And I am not perswading139
you, that every man must needs140
Preach as oft as Mr. Allen, or study and141
meditate as long as Mr. Janeway and he142
did: Men have their various capacities143
and opportunities, and works. 2. But144
yet I dare not charge either of them with145
sin: because I know not their particular146
motives. 3. And perhaps their lives had147
been as short if they had done less, as148
are the lives of many hundred Students,149
who favour themselves more than any150
wise man would wish. And it was Gods151
mercy that they who had but a short life152
to live, should do more than many that153
live to the period of natures course. And154
Methusalems life and theirs is equalled155
now. Whom have you known that by156
longer living, hath got more holy readiness157
to die? 4. But I beseech you distinguish158
well, between that part of their159
work, which was really like to overthrow160
their natures, and the rest which had no161
such tendency: and do not make the162
avoiding of the former a pretence, against163
your imitating of the later. It is not studying,164
meditating, praying, preaching,165
according to the measures of natures166
strength, that much shortneth life. I think167
that Learned man wrote not foolishly,168
who maintaineth that studies tend to long169
life? For my own part I was feeble before170
I was a hard Student: And studies171
have been a constant pleasure to me; And172
let any man judge whether constant pleasure173
tend to shorten any mans life? Indeed,174
that which destroyeth the health of175
Students is, 1. The sedentariness of their176
lives, 2. And want of temperance or due177
care of their diet, 3. And want of sufficient178
cheerfulness, 4. And taking colds.179
Could Students but more imitate the labouring180
man, and take just hours and opportunities181
for bodily labour not playful182
walks and exercises, that never warm and183
purge the blood, and did they eat and184
drink wisely, and live joyfully, and avoid185
colds, they might bestow the rest of their186
time in the hardest studies, with little187
hurt; except here and there a melancholy188
or diseased man. I doubt not but189
such narratives as this, will tempt many a190
slothful sensual Scholar, to indulge his191
sensuality as the wiser way; but at a dying192
hour he will find the difference. O what193
a comfort then is the review of a Holy,194
Heavenly well-spent life!195
I have oft thought what the Reason is196
that among the Papists, if the lives of197
their Saints be described in the highest198
strain, or their books have even unreasonable199
pretensions of devotion, even to200
the laying by of our understandings, or201
to a kind of Deification, like Barbansons,202
Benedictus, de Benedictis, and divers203
others it doth not offend men, but204
the vulgar themselves do glory in the sanctity205
of them. Whereas if with us a206
man rise higher in holiness, and in devote207
contemplation, yea or action, than others,208
he is presently the great eye-sore and obloquy209
of the world, I mean of the envious210
and ungodly part, which is too great.211
But the reason I perceive is, that among212
the Papists, to be a Religious man is to213
be a Perfectist who doth more than is214
commanded him or is necessary to salvation;215
and so the people being taught that216
they may be saved without being such217
themselves, their spleen is not stirred up218
against them, as the troubles of their219
Consciences peace; but they are interessed220
in their honour, as being the honour221
of their way and Church: But with us222
men are taught that they must be Religious223
themselves in sincerity if ever they224
will be saved, and that without Holiness225
none shall see God, and that they226
are not sincere if they desire not to be perfect:227
And so they that will not be godly228
themselves, do think that the lives of229
the godly do condemn them.230
I write not this to cast any disgrace on231
the true History of any holy mens lives:232
Nor shall it ever be my employment to233
reproach or hide Gods Graces in any, nor234
to make men believe that they are235
worse than they are. Whoever revile236
me for it, I will magnifie and love237
that of God which appeareth in any238
of his servants, of any sect or party whatsoever.239
When I read such writings as240
old Gerson, Guil. Parisiensis, and divers241
others, and such as Jos. Acosta and some242
other Jesuits, and such lives as Nerius's243
and Mr. de Reuti's, &c. I cannot but think244
that they had the spirit of God, and the245
more do I hate all those mischievous engines,246
additions and singularities, which247
divide so many Christians in the world,248
who have the same spirit, and will not249
suffer us to hold the unity of the spirit in250
the bond of peace. O this unhappy pretended251
Wisdom, and Orthodoxness in the252
holding of our several opinions, is the253
knowledge that puffeth up, and hath bred254
the pernicious tympanite of the Church,255
when it is Charity that edifieth it; And256
the more men glory in their dogmatical257
knowledge, to the contempt and hurt of258
such as differ from them, the less they259
know as they ought to know. And if260
any man have knowledge enough to261
kindle in his soul the Love of God, the262
same is known and loved of God, and263
then he will prove that wise man indeed,264
at death and to Eternity, I Cor 8.1, 2, 3.265
Reader, Learn by this History to place266
thy Religion in love and praise, and a267
heavenly life. Learn to keep such communion268
with God, and to find such employment269
with thy heart by meditation,270
as thy strength, and opportunity, and other271
duties will allow thee: for I urge thee272
to no more Learn hence to thirst after273
the good of souls, and to fill up thy274
hours with fruitful duty! And O that275
we could here learn the hardest lesson, to276
get above the love of life, and to overcome277
the fears of death, and to long to278
see the glory of Christ, and triumphantly279
to pass by Joy to Joy. O blessed world280
of holy spirits! whose nature, and work,281
and happiness is Love: Not Love of Carnal-self,282
and Interest, and Parties, which283
here maketh those seek our distruction284
most, who have the highest esteem of our285
knowledge and sincerity as thinking our286
dissent will most effectually cross their287
partial Interests: But the Love of God288
in Himself and in his Saints, checked by no289
sin; hindered by no distance, darkness,290
deadness or disaffection: diverted by291
no carnal worldly baits; tempted by no292
persecutions or afflictions; damped by no293
fears of death, nor of any decaies or cessation294
through Eternity. To teach me295
better how to live and die, in Faith,296
Hope and Love, is that for which I read297
this narrative; and that thou maist learn298
the same is the end of my commending it299
to thee! The Lord teach it effectually to300
thee and me. Amen.301
RICHARD BAXTER.302
August 28.303
1672.304