The Divine Life

Richard Baxter (1615-1691) was ordained in 1638 and served in ministry at Kidderminster. A Puritan Nonconformist pastor, he resisted the governance of the Church of England and renounced his ordination. Baxter became notorious for his ecumenical beliefs during a time of great religious conflict, and he was sentenced to prison for his paraphrase of the New Testament. He wrote prolifically throughout his life, and although he contributed to Puritan theology, he was unique in rejecting limited atonement and believing that repentance and obedience could affect one's salvation. Though controversial in his time, his written works are today valuable for their theological strengths.