Book cover for A Call to the Unconverted by Richard Baxter

A Call to the Unconverted

2000 Released
108 Pages
1-2 Hours
Ebook Unavailable
Audiobook Unavailable
Sovereign Grace PublishersISBN 9781878442291

There are two outstanding classics on the subject of conversion: A Call to the Unconverted, Richard Baxter; and, An Alarm to the Unconverted, Joseph Alleine.
Richard Baxter was a bright and shining light in the golden age of theology, the seventeenth century. Not only was he the most voluminous author of his day (72 volumes), but also his shepherding of his flock at Kidderminster was so phenomenal that it stands as a marker for all other pastors and evangelists. He practiced what he teaches in this book. The host of conversions under his preaching testifies to the power of the message in A Call.
Baxter was always plain spoken to sinners: "Whoever loves earth above Heaven, and fleshly prosperity more than God, is a wicked, unconverted man!"
"We are commanded to beseech and entreat you to accept the offer and turn; to tell you what preparation is made by Christ; what mercy stays for you; what patience waits on you . . .how certainly and unspeakable happy you may be if you will. We have indeed a message of wrath and death; yea, of a twofold wrath and death; but neither of them is our principal message. We must tell you of the wrath that is on you already, and the death that you are born under for the breach of the law of works. But this is only to show you the need of mercy, and to provoke you to esteem the grace of the Redeemer. . . . Our telling you of your misery is not to make you miserable, but to drive you out to seek for mercy. It is you who have brought this death on yourselves. We tell you also of another death, one even remediless, and much greater torment that will fall on those who will not be converted. . . This is the last and saddest part of our message. We arefirst to offer you mercy, if you will turn." (Pp. 21, 22).

Richard Baxter

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.

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