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

§ III.

Memorable Persons, Consultations, Actions, and Events (with their respective Epochs, Successions and Periods) are the Subject Matter of History: Propriety, clearness and vigour of Expression is what duly and gratefully represents the Matter to the Reader. Accurate Method gives advantage to the Memory, as well as satisfaction to the Judgment. The faithfulness, fullness, and freedom of relation conciliates a good Reputation to the Writer by its convincing Influences upon the Reader's mind; and thus it powerfully claims and extorts his Submission to the evident credibility of what he peruses: and the weight and usefulness of the Things related makes the Reader serious, and concerned to observe what he reads: for finding the Matter great, the Expression proper and lively, the Current of the History orderly and exact, and the Purposes and Ends various and important which the History subserves, he accordingly values and uses it as a Treasure. And from thence he extracts such Maxims and Principles as may greatly bestead him in every Exigence, and in every Station and Article of Trust and Concern, and Negotiation. History tells us who have been upon the Stage, how they came into Business and Trust, what was the Compass and Import of their Province, what they themselves therein signified to others; and what, others to them; and what all availed to Posterity, and how they went off, and so what Figure they most deserved to make in the Records of Time.

Memorable Persons, Consultations, Actions, and Events (with their respective Epochs, Successions and Periods) are the Subject Matter of History: Propriety, clearness and vigour of Expression is what duly and gratefully represents the Matter to the Reader. Accurate Method gives advantage to the Memory, as well as satisfaction to the Judgment. The faithfulness, fulness, and freedom of relation conciliates a good Reputation to the Writer by its convincing Influences upon the Reader's mind; and thus it powerfully claims and extorts his Submission to the evident credibility of what he peruses: and the weight and usefulness of the Things related makes the Reader serious, and concerned to observe what he reads: for finding the Matter great, the Expression proper and lively, the Current of the History orderly and exact, and the Purposes and Ends various and important which the History subserves, he accordingly values and uses it as a Treasure. And from thence he extracts such Maxims and Principles as may greatly bestead him in every Exigence, and in every Station and Article of Trust and Concern, and Negotiation. History tells us who have been upon the Stage, how they came into Business and Trust, what was the Compass and Import of their Province, what they themselves therein signified to others; and what, others to them; and what all availed to Posterity, and how they went off, and so what Figure they most deserv'd to make in the Records of Time.