Universal redemption of mankind, by the Lord Jesus Christ stated and cleared by the…

IT is necessary that I give some Account how these Disputations (with many others) came to my hands, and of their Publication. Being sent to Cambridge by Mr. Baxter, be was pleased at my return from thence, to receive me into his Family, and to make use of me as his Assistant at my first entrance into the Ministry, Anno, 1657. in Kidderminster the place of my Birth: Some of the first work he put me upon was to transcribe these Papers of Redemption, which he designed for the Press. The Ministers of Worcestershire and Neighbourhood thereabouts who usually attended on his Thursday Lecture, and heard these Disputations at their Monthly Meeting, were generally desirous to have them Printed. Mr. B. had long since raised their expectation thereof, by declaring his intention of it in Print. At last (though long first) viz. July 17. 1691. he gave them to me, signifying his willingness to have them Printed.

If any Person question whether he wrote and fitted these Sheets for the Press, I shall readily satisfy him by producing the Original of his own hand writing, as well as the Copy thereof wrote by me at least 38 years since. If these Disputations of Redemption find acceptance (which I see no cause to doubt of) I shall be thereby encouraged to Print the rest, or such of them as may be thought most useful.

If any Person question whether he wrote and fitted these Sheets for the Press, I shall readily satisfie him by producing the Original of his own hand writing, as well as the Copy thereof wrote by me at least 38 years since. If these Disputations of Redemption find acceptance (which I see no cause to doubt of) I shall be thereby incouraged to Print the rest, or such of them as may be thought most useful.

It was a great word of Bishop Wilkins, that Mr. Baxter had cultivated every Subject he handled, (read this Subject of Redemption, and judge whether there be not cause to say so of it) if he had lived in the Primitive times, he had been one of the Fathers of the Church. And again. It was enough, saith he, for one Age to produce such a Person as Mr. Baxter: But his works praise him much more than the Tongues or Pens of the greatest Doctors or best of Men can do. There is therefore no need of Letters of Recommendation to set forth the excellence of this Work or the Praises of the Author thereof. Let it suffice to assure the Reader that this Disputation of Universal Redemption was composed by him in the strength of his day, about the 40th year of his Age, when the opposition of the Learned of differing Opinions had sharpened his Pen, and made him critically exact in considering what he intended for the Press. That which I earnestly desire is, that young Ministers, and especially all Candidates for the Ministry would put on humbleness of mind, and set themselves at the feet of this Great Man as Learners, and then through the Divine Blessing, I doubt not but their profiting will appear unto all men: And let those of different Judgment from him, but remember, that Mr. Baxter now dead is as much above their clamorous censures, as while living he was their Superior in his Gifts and Graces: Had the one or the other but known Mr. Baxter, as well as others of his familiar Friends, his Works would be highly valued by them; or at least his unspotted Holiness, and great Charity would so far have conciliated their minds, and engaged their affections as to love and honour his memory, and imitate his Life, which