Reliquiæ Baxterianæ, or, Mr. Richard Baxters narrative of the most memorable passages of his…

§ I.

I Am very sensible that this Memorial of Mr. Baxter, and his Historical Accounts of the Times which went over him, have been long expected and much desired by the World. And the greater the impatience, the more severely the delay is like to be resented. But he that well considers, 1. How confusedly a great quantity of loose Papers relating thereunto, came into my hands; all which were to be sorted and reduced to their proper places. 2. How much other work was then incumbent on me. 3. How little my indisposed and weak hand can write; (not an Octavo page in a competently great character in an hour). 4. How many uncomfortable Providences have since diverted me; and could not but do so. 5. How much time the orderly disposal of his bequeathed Library to young poor Students, according to his Injunctions on me, took up. 6. How much time my Ministerial Work required; together with the unavoidable removal of my Habitation and Meeting Place, and the Settling of my Congregation thereupon. He that (I say) well considers these things (and more that I could say, were it expedient so long to detain the Reader from the more profitable and delightful Entertainment of the Book it self) will at least abate his Censures, if not quite lay them by. However, I must and shall submit my self unto what Constructions the Reader shall think fit to make of my Apology for its delay so long.

I Am very sensible that this Memorial of Mr. Baxter, and his Historical Accounts of the Times which went over him, have been long expected and much desired by the World. And the greater the impatience, the more severely the delay is like to be resented. But he that well considers, 1. How confusedly a great quantity of loose Papers relating thereunto, came into my hands; all which were to be sorted and reduced to their proper places. 2. How much other work was then incumbent on me. 3. How little my indisposed and weak hand can write; (not an Octavo page in a competently great character in an hour). 4. How many uncomfortable Providences have since diverted me; and could not but do so. 5. How much time the orderly disposal of his bequeathed Library to young poor Students, according to his Injunctions on me, took up. 6. How much time my Ministerial Work required; together with the unavoidable removal of my Habitation and Meeting Place, and the Setling of my Congregation thereupon. He that (I say) well considers these things (and more that I could say, were it expedient so long to detain the Reader from the more profitable and delightful Entertainment of the Book it self) will at least abate his Censures, if not quite lay them by. However, I must and shall submit my self unto what Constructions the Reader shall think fit to make of my Apology for its delay so long.