They almost form a library of themselves. Of his distinct treatises, the "Biographia Britannia" reckons 145; of which four were folios, 73 quartos, and 49 octavos, and the others of smaller and differing sizes. Their avails, which he received from the booksellers, were devoted to charitable purposes. They comprise bodies of theology, practical and theoretical, with many tracts on particular topics. Those of a peculiarly practical nature have been collected in four folio volumes. He was an author more than forty years; the "Saints' Rest" being written when he was but little past thirty, and his last book, "The Certainty of the World of Spirits," published the year of his death. Of his "Call to the Unconverted," which he was induced to write at the solicitation of Archbishop Usher, twenty thousand. copies were sold in one year, and it was translated into most of the European languages, as well as into the Indian tongue.

His "Saints' Rest" was composed under the humiliation of bodily weakness, at a distance from home and friends, with no book to consult but the Bible, and when for many weeks he

was in daily expectation of death. "Therefore," said he, " did I fix my thoughts on this heavenly subject, which hath more benefited me than all the studies of my life." Flavel, in alluding to this work, during the last illness of its author, says :-" He is almost in heaven; living in daily and cheerful expectation of the Saints' Rest with God, and left for a little while among us as a great example of the life of faith." Many persons of eminence have expressed the happy effect produced upon their minds by the attentive perusal of the "Saints' Rest" aud mention is made of a child whose piety was so much promoted by it, that he spoke of it with the greatest delight, and when in his last sickness, at the age of twelve years, said earnestly, "I pray, let me have good Mr. Baxter's book, that I may read a little more of eternity, before I go into it."

It was the happiness of Richard Baxter, amid much contention and obloquy, to retain the friendship and confidence of good men of all ranks and denominations. They considered him one whose whole soul was engaged in his profession; the springs of whose unslumbering

action were ardent piety towards God and zeal for the best interests of his fellow-creatures. To these sacred objects few men have ever devoted more time and toil.

Though he sustained some rancorous abuse, it was his lot to be respected both by contemporaries and posterity. Among his firmest friends was Chief Justice Hale, who spoke in the highest terms of his learning and piety to the other judges on the bench; and while he lay in prison left him a legacy in his will, and several manuscript volumes of his own handwriting. As an author Dr. Barrow testifies of him, that his "practical writings were never mended; his controversial ones seldom confuted." Bishop Wilkins affirms, that "he has cultivated every subject which he handled;" and had he lived in primitive times, would have been one of the fathers of the Church."

THE COUNTESS OF SUFFOLK.

1627

THE Countess of Suffolk, the second daughter of the Earl of Holland, was born in 1627, and married when very young to Theophilus, Earl of Suffolk. She early evinced strong intellectual powers. Memory especially was so active, that when almost a child she was able to commit to writing on Monday, the substance of the sermon which she had heard on the preceding Sunday, preserving in the more striking passages, the precise words of the preacher.

Piety was an element of her character, and guided her conduct. She was remarkable for self-control, and it was observed by her intimate friends that she was unskilful in express

ing displeasure at common offences and provocations; but a profane or indelicate phrase, would move her immediately to reprove the person who used it, if an acquaintance, and if a stranger to withdraw from his company.

In her relative duties she was faithful and exemplary. To this her parents, husband, kindred, and servants, bore the fullest testimony. She was ready to make any sacrifice of her own wishes to promote the comfort of those whom she loved. In friendship, she was frank and confiding, and few things were more distressing to her than to be compelled to doubt the merit of those who had possessed her good opinion. She was affable to those of inferior rank, tender to the errors of her servants, and treated with particular kindness those who proved themselves worthy of her regard.

She was distinguished throughout her life, for a love of truth, and would meet ridicule and danger, rather than swerve from integrity. Her benevolence was an equally active principle. The poor whom she knew, need not seek to her personally for aid. She sent to their habitations clothing, food, fuel, and medi