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

12. Another Advantage was the Presence and Countenance of honest Justices of Peace: Colonel John Bridges, a prudent, pious Gentleman, was Patron of the Church, and lived in the Parish, and was a Justice of Peace: And a Bailiff and Justice were Annually chosen in the Corporation, who ordinarily were godly men, and always such as would be thought so, and were ready to use their Authority to ⟨p. 89⟩Suppress Sin, and promote Goodness. And when once a Sabbath-breaker thought to have overthrown the Officers at Law, Serjeant Fountain being then Judge of Assize, did so repress his Malice, as discouraged all others from any more such attempts. But now the World is changed—.

12. Another Advantage was the Presence and Countenance of honest Justices of Peace: Colonel Iohn Bridges, a prudent, pious Gentleman, was Patron of the Church, and lived in the Parish, and was a Justice of Peace: And a Bailiff and Justice were Annually chosen in the Corporation, who ordinarily were godly men, and always such as would be thought so, and were ready to use their Authority to ⟨p. 89⟩Suppress Sin, and promote Goodness. And when once a Sabbath-breaker thought to have overthrown the Officers at Law, Serjeant Fountain being then Judge of Assize, did so repress his Malice, as discouraged all others from any more such attempts. But now the World is changed—.

13. Another help to my Success, was that small relief which my low Estate enabled me to afford the Poor: though the Place was reckoned at near 200l. per Annum, there came but 90l. and sometimes 80l. per Annum to me: Besides which, some years I had 60l. or 80l. a year of the Booksellers for my Books: which little dispersed among them, much reconciled them to the Doctrine which I taught: I took the aptest of their Children from the School, and set divers of them to the Universities; where for 8l. a year, or 10l. at most, by the help of my Friends there I maintained them. Mr. Vines and Dr. Hill did help me to Sizers places for them at Cambridge: And the Lady Rous allowed me 8l. a year awhile towards their Maintenance, and Mr. Tho. Fowley and Col. Bridges also assisted me. Some of them are honest able Ministers, now cast out with their Brethren: But two or three, having no other way to live, turned great Conformists, and are Preachers now. And in giving that little I had, I did not enquire whether they were good or bad, if they asked Relief: For the bad had Souls and Bodies that needed Charity most. And I found that Three pence or a Groat to every poor Body that asked me, was no great matter in a year, but a few pounds in that way of giving would go far. And this Truth I will speak to the encouragement of the Charitable, that what little Money I have now by me, I got it almost all (I scarce know how) in that time when I gave most: And since I have had less opportunity of giving, I have had less increase.