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A Call to the Unconverted (The Practical Works of Richard Baxter, Vol. 2)
The Reasons of the Christian Religion- The Unreasonableness of Infidelity- Treatise of Conversion- Character of a Sound, Confirmed Christian- & seven other treatises
1063 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1658
60 people are currently reading
171 people want to read
About the author
Richard Baxter
977Ìýbooks95ÌýfollowersRichard Baxter (1615-1691) was an English Puritan church leader, poet, hymn-writer, theologian, and controversialist. Dean Stanley called him "the chief of English Protestant Schoolmen". After some false starts, he made his reputation by his ministry at Kidderminster, and at around the same time began a long and prolific career as theological writer. After the Restoration he refused preferment, while retaining a non-separatist presbyterian approach, and became one of the most influential leaders of the nonconformists, spending time in prison.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ database.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ database.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
May 27, 2013
I've the importance of reading "old dead guys." Too many Christians today are snacking on trendy preachers when they should be feasting on the proven preachers of history. Some who are popular and entertaining today are demonstrably heretics tomorrow. ÌýA good place to jumpstart your reading is .
A Call to the Unconverted is a deeply passionate, time-tested appeal to those who do not believe in Christ to thoughtfully consider turning to Him. It was written by English pastor Richard Baxter (1615-1691). It's the second book of his that I've read ().
I can't recommend this book enough for two classes of people:
Those who believe in Jesus Christ as the loving and living Lord
Those who have not surrendered their life in faith to Jesus Christ in sorrow for sin for the joy of salvation
That should cover everyone, basically.
Christians should read this book to stir or restore their hearts for a deeply passionate desire to see their family and friends, their neighbors and the nations surrender in faith to Jesus Christ. Baxter presents a convicting appeal to Christians to live like they belong to Christ. How else will those who have not yet trusted in Jesus hear the good news?
Not-yet Christians should read this book and consider deeply the rational appeals of Baxter. He is penetrating in his logic and stirring in his love for those who do not believe (yet) in Christ. The not-yet Christian should not fear being brow-beaten into faith in this book. Rather, one will find themselves coaxed, urged and pleaded with to consider the offer of Jesus of forgiveness.
If you are a not-yet Christian, and you've gotten this far in this post, first of all, thank you! Second of all, you may wonder why people like me (and Baxter) are so persistent in telling you about Jesus. Our culture tells you (and maybe you have chosen to believe it) that whatever religion makes a person "happy" is fine. That if a person finds happiness in Christianity, Buddhism, agnosticism, whatever, that's fine. Just be happy and leave the world alone. However, what if there is truth? What if oneÌýis right and the others are all misguided at best or evil machinations to keep you from the truth at worst?
Real followers of Jesus believe that only faith in Him saves ultimately and eternally. That's why we persist.
Hear Baxter explain our motivation and effort:
I appreciate Baxter's humility throughout the book. Even as he portrays the difference between "us" and "them" in regards to Christians and not-yet Christians, it's important for the reader and Christians to remember that the "us" was just recently a "them." We are not "in" because of our own merit. We are saved and forgiven because of the love of Christ. Christianity is not a country club of snobbish religious people. In its true form, its a movement of people away from sin and brokenness toward salvation and wholeness through a love relationship with Jesus Christ.
Baxter's book throughout blends gentle pleading with urgent demands upon both groups: Christians and not-yet Christians. What for him was normal Christianity in his passion to reach those apart from Christ might be considered "radical" today. The American church in particular needs to recover the loving and gentle heart of Baxter that unswervingly and clearly pleads with people to give their lives to Christ. His book conjures the image of a desperate man in the fog, waving a lantern on a road just before a washed-out bridge, pleading and warning travelers to turn back.
A Call to the Unconverted is a deeply passionate, time-tested appeal to those who do not believe in Christ to thoughtfully consider turning to Him. It was written by English pastor Richard Baxter (1615-1691). It's the second book of his that I've read ().
Baxter has been called the “Prince of Preachers,� and this book (one of his more than 168 works!) is a demonstration of his deep burden for the beauty of the bride of Christ, his careful articulation of theology, and his extremely practical approach to Christian living and leading.
I can't recommend this book enough for two classes of people:
Those who believe in Jesus Christ as the loving and living Lord
Those who have not surrendered their life in faith to Jesus Christ in sorrow for sin for the joy of salvation
That should cover everyone, basically.
Christians should read this book to stir or restore their hearts for a deeply passionate desire to see their family and friends, their neighbors and the nations surrender in faith to Jesus Christ. Baxter presents a convicting appeal to Christians to live like they belong to Christ. How else will those who have not yet trusted in Jesus hear the good news?
Not-yet Christians should read this book and consider deeply the rational appeals of Baxter. He is penetrating in his logic and stirring in his love for those who do not believe (yet) in Christ. The not-yet Christian should not fear being brow-beaten into faith in this book. Rather, one will find themselves coaxed, urged and pleaded with to consider the offer of Jesus of forgiveness.
If you are a not-yet Christian, and you've gotten this far in this post, first of all, thank you! Second of all, you may wonder why people like me (and Baxter) are so persistent in telling you about Jesus. Our culture tells you (and maybe you have chosen to believe it) that whatever religion makes a person "happy" is fine. That if a person finds happiness in Christianity, Buddhism, agnosticism, whatever, that's fine. Just be happy and leave the world alone. However, what if there is truth? What if oneÌýis right and the others are all misguided at best or evil machinations to keep you from the truth at worst?
Real followers of Jesus believe that only faith in Him saves ultimately and eternally. That's why we persist.
Hear Baxter explain our motivation and effort:
To see how near you are to hell, and we cannot make you believe it or consider it. To see how easily, how certainly you might escape, if we knew but how to make you willing... We study day and night what to say to you that may convince and persuade you, and yet it is undone: we lay before you the Word of God. And show you the very chapter and verse where it is written, that you cannot be saved except you be converted; and yet we leave the most of you as we find you. We hope you will believe the Word of God, though you believe not us, and regard it when we show the plain scripture for it; but we hope in vain, and labor in vain as to any saving change upon your hearts! And do you think that this is a pleasant thing to us?
I appreciate Baxter's humility throughout the book. Even as he portrays the difference between "us" and "them" in regards to Christians and not-yet Christians, it's important for the reader and Christians to remember that the "us" was just recently a "them." We are not "in" because of our own merit. We are saved and forgiven because of the love of Christ. Christianity is not a country club of snobbish religious people. In its true form, its a movement of people away from sin and brokenness toward salvation and wholeness through a love relationship with Jesus Christ.
Baxter's book throughout blends gentle pleading with urgent demands upon both groups: Christians and not-yet Christians. What for him was normal Christianity in his passion to reach those apart from Christ might be considered "radical" today. The American church in particular needs to recover the loving and gentle heart of Baxter that unswervingly and clearly pleads with people to give their lives to Christ. His book conjures the image of a desperate man in the fog, waving a lantern on a road just before a washed-out bridge, pleading and warning travelers to turn back.
December 23, 2022
Timeless classic; a heart-felt appeal to everyone to make a stand for Christ; to convert and live with dignity and passion beforeit's too late. Filled with well-thought out principles, and directions for making life-changing choices, readers will find a passionate plea for your soul.
March 17, 2016
Você quer tirar a última sombra de dúvida a respeito da impiedade de alguém? entregue a ele este livro e provará nisto que se nenhuma grande mudança ocorrer, é ele, deliberadamente, um filho da serpente.
Um chamado aos não convertidos é um livro do grande pregador Richard Baxter, o qual exemplifica a glória de Deus em contraste com o pecado, dizendo que o sol é escuridão perto de Sua glória, enquanto o homem que tem traços de justiça dEle busca saber quem é o culpado em todos os crimes, mas, diligentemente, tenta inocentar-se e eximir-se da culpa de seus crimes eternos.
Baxter convida os impios a defenderem-se usando os seus melhores argumentos para não cumprirem a Lei de Deus quando estiverem diante dEle no Seu Julgamento: "a morte lhe trará um argumento ao qual não poderá responder... E, então, como será rápida sua mudança de mente! Seja então um descrente se puder. Sustente então suas antigas palavras, que costumava proferir contra a vida santa e celestial!".
Baxter diz ainda que se o homem pudesse ser convencido apenas pela racionalidade, não encontrarÃamos nenhum intelectual incrédulo; que se se a doçura pudesse seduzir as pessoas a Cristo, nenhum homem estaria fora de Cristo. Ele alerta para a brevidade da vida e para o destino eterno de nossas almas como um homem que recebe uma mensagem sobre alguém que está vindo para o matar, e já não sente prazer nas coisas que fazia antes, e não se alegra com as antigas companhias, antes se prepara para a chegada da morte.
Ele afirma que não trocaria uma vida piedosa, restrita de prazeres e bens, pela vida de alguém que é ferido por crise de consciência e opressões secretas por causa da impiedade.
Alguns homens tentam se enganar dizendo que a eternidade no inferno é uma pena muito grande para o crime do pecado. Mas consideremos que quando uma pena é muito grande, as pessoas ao invés de acharem que não serão punidas por banal ato, temerão e jamais farão aquilo que as pode levar a tamanho castigo.
Richard Baxter é um homem que teve seu coração fortemente quebrantado por Deus para com os homens. Suas palavras ecoam até hoje alertando homens a converterem-se e reconciliarem-se com o Rei do Universo, beijando o Filho para que não se irrite o Pai.
Um chamado aos não convertidos é um livro do grande pregador Richard Baxter, o qual exemplifica a glória de Deus em contraste com o pecado, dizendo que o sol é escuridão perto de Sua glória, enquanto o homem que tem traços de justiça dEle busca saber quem é o culpado em todos os crimes, mas, diligentemente, tenta inocentar-se e eximir-se da culpa de seus crimes eternos.
Baxter convida os impios a defenderem-se usando os seus melhores argumentos para não cumprirem a Lei de Deus quando estiverem diante dEle no Seu Julgamento: "a morte lhe trará um argumento ao qual não poderá responder... E, então, como será rápida sua mudança de mente! Seja então um descrente se puder. Sustente então suas antigas palavras, que costumava proferir contra a vida santa e celestial!".
Baxter diz ainda que se o homem pudesse ser convencido apenas pela racionalidade, não encontrarÃamos nenhum intelectual incrédulo; que se se a doçura pudesse seduzir as pessoas a Cristo, nenhum homem estaria fora de Cristo. Ele alerta para a brevidade da vida e para o destino eterno de nossas almas como um homem que recebe uma mensagem sobre alguém que está vindo para o matar, e já não sente prazer nas coisas que fazia antes, e não se alegra com as antigas companhias, antes se prepara para a chegada da morte.
Ele afirma que não trocaria uma vida piedosa, restrita de prazeres e bens, pela vida de alguém que é ferido por crise de consciência e opressões secretas por causa da impiedade.
Alguns homens tentam se enganar dizendo que a eternidade no inferno é uma pena muito grande para o crime do pecado. Mas consideremos que quando uma pena é muito grande, as pessoas ao invés de acharem que não serão punidas por banal ato, temerão e jamais farão aquilo que as pode levar a tamanho castigo.
Richard Baxter é um homem que teve seu coração fortemente quebrantado por Deus para com os homens. Suas palavras ecoam até hoje alertando homens a converterem-se e reconciliarem-se com o Rei do Universo, beijando o Filho para que não se irrite o Pai.
August 2, 2020
An extended exposition of Ezekiel 33:11 that bristles with urgency. Page after page, Baxter pleads with the unconverted to turn to Christ. If this book would be revised with more modern English (and perhaps abridged), then this would be the perfect book to give to an unbeliever. Baxter's desire to see God glorified and his love for the sinner are in equal measure inspiring and convicting.
December 31, 2022
Aneko Press sends out an email each month, usually with a free book download. Recently it was "A Call to the Unconverted," by Richard Baxter. This interested me because Baxter was a Puritan preacher who was born in 1615. Yes, he was a contemporary of Shakespeare, Galileo, Elizabeth I, and Bach. No "woke" would be here, I was pretty sure.
And I was right. This book was Baxter's effort to convince the unconverted. "With pardon being freely offered to you, and heaven being set before you, He calls you away from your fleshly pleasures, and away from following after this deceitful world, and desires to acquaint you with the life that you were created and redeemed for before you are dead and past remedy." Now there's some preaching I can appreciate! None of this "live your best life now" and "God wants you to be happy."
No, Baxter pleads, "Oh, that the Lord would fill our hearts with more compassion to these wretched souls so that we might cast ourselves even at their feet, follow them to their houses, and speak to them with our bitter tears ... Yet a little while, and your friend will say of you, 'He is dead.' Then you will see the things that you now despise, and you will feel that which now you will not believe. Death will bring such an argument that you cannot answer. It will be an argument that will powerfully discredit your arguments against the Word and ways of God."
"Oh, deceived, wretched soul! There is nothing but a slender veil of flesh between you and that amazing sight that will quickly silence you, change your tone, and make you of another mind! As soon as death has drawn this curtain, you will see that which will quickly leave you speechless. How quickly that day and hour will come!"
Baxter goes on (and on and on) like this. Really, it's motivating, and I can't imagine anyone reading it who would not want to become a Christian. But I kept thinking, that's the issue -- how many of the unconverted would actually read a book like this? Precious few, I bet. Baxter knew that his efforts at leading the unconverted to Christ would be largely in vain, and his response: "...God the Father condescended to create them, and God the Son did not refuse to bear the penalty of their sins upon the cross and did not judge such sufferings vain (although He knew that by refusing the sanctification of the Holy Spirit they would finally destroy themselves), so we who are His ministers do not judge our labor completely lost, even though these people are not gathered."
He goes on to elaborate on 7 principles:
It is the unchangeable law of God that wicked people must turn or die.
It is the promise of God that the wicked will live if they will simply turn.
God takes pleasure in people's conversion and salvation, but not in their death or damnation. He would rather have them return and live than continue in their ways and die.
This is a most certain truth that God has confirmed to them by His oath because He does not want people to doubt this truth.
The Lord reinforces His commands and exhortations to the wicked to turn.
The Lord lowers Himself to reason the case with unconverted sinners and to ask them why they will die.
If the wicked will not turn after all this, it is not God's fault that they perish, but it is their own fault. Their own stubbornness and rebellion is the cause of their damnation. Therefore, they die because they choose to die. They refuse to turn.
"Hell would not be so full if people were only willing to know their situation and to hear and think of it." One issue I had as I read this compelling book was considering its oft-repeated plea to "turn." Many Sundays we attend a "reformed" church, and they seem to emphasize God's will deciding who will be saved/converted/"turned." If God decides who is "in," is there even a point to tell people to convert? I struggle with this mindset because it's not the way I was raised, and some Bible verses, like Matthew 23:37 seem to contradict it. Honestly, I can find Bible verses that seem to support each view. It's confusing. Still, I guess if you are unsaved and feel convicted that you should be saved and want to be, you can be -- so was that your will deciding it, or were you "in" all along and you just now realized it? I know, I'm getting way too deep here for a book review :)
I was really impressed with Baxter's heart for the lost. "If we would plead with them with tears to turn, we still cannot persuade them. What more can we do?"
"Heaven will make up for the loss of anything that we can lose to obtain it, or for any labor that we expend for it, but nothing can pay for the loss of heaven." Love this thought!
I have a few in my world who I wish would read this book -- but again, those who need it would be unlikely to read it. "Now or later, you must come to this -- either to be converted, or to wish you had been when it is too late." I so wish pastors today would preach like this! I'm sure it would empty out some churches, but no doubt it would save some souls.
"The wisdom of God has thought proper to place people's salvation or destruction exceedingly much upon the choice of their own will so that no one will go to heaven who did not choose the way to heaven, and no one will go to hell who will not be obligated to say, 'I have what I chose. My own will brought me here.'"
Highly recommended.
And I was right. This book was Baxter's effort to convince the unconverted. "With pardon being freely offered to you, and heaven being set before you, He calls you away from your fleshly pleasures, and away from following after this deceitful world, and desires to acquaint you with the life that you were created and redeemed for before you are dead and past remedy." Now there's some preaching I can appreciate! None of this "live your best life now" and "God wants you to be happy."
No, Baxter pleads, "Oh, that the Lord would fill our hearts with more compassion to these wretched souls so that we might cast ourselves even at their feet, follow them to their houses, and speak to them with our bitter tears ... Yet a little while, and your friend will say of you, 'He is dead.' Then you will see the things that you now despise, and you will feel that which now you will not believe. Death will bring such an argument that you cannot answer. It will be an argument that will powerfully discredit your arguments against the Word and ways of God."
"Oh, deceived, wretched soul! There is nothing but a slender veil of flesh between you and that amazing sight that will quickly silence you, change your tone, and make you of another mind! As soon as death has drawn this curtain, you will see that which will quickly leave you speechless. How quickly that day and hour will come!"
Baxter goes on (and on and on) like this. Really, it's motivating, and I can't imagine anyone reading it who would not want to become a Christian. But I kept thinking, that's the issue -- how many of the unconverted would actually read a book like this? Precious few, I bet. Baxter knew that his efforts at leading the unconverted to Christ would be largely in vain, and his response: "...God the Father condescended to create them, and God the Son did not refuse to bear the penalty of their sins upon the cross and did not judge such sufferings vain (although He knew that by refusing the sanctification of the Holy Spirit they would finally destroy themselves), so we who are His ministers do not judge our labor completely lost, even though these people are not gathered."
He goes on to elaborate on 7 principles:
It is the unchangeable law of God that wicked people must turn or die.
It is the promise of God that the wicked will live if they will simply turn.
God takes pleasure in people's conversion and salvation, but not in their death or damnation. He would rather have them return and live than continue in their ways and die.
This is a most certain truth that God has confirmed to them by His oath because He does not want people to doubt this truth.
The Lord reinforces His commands and exhortations to the wicked to turn.
The Lord lowers Himself to reason the case with unconverted sinners and to ask them why they will die.
If the wicked will not turn after all this, it is not God's fault that they perish, but it is their own fault. Their own stubbornness and rebellion is the cause of their damnation. Therefore, they die because they choose to die. They refuse to turn.
"Hell would not be so full if people were only willing to know their situation and to hear and think of it." One issue I had as I read this compelling book was considering its oft-repeated plea to "turn." Many Sundays we attend a "reformed" church, and they seem to emphasize God's will deciding who will be saved/converted/"turned." If God decides who is "in," is there even a point to tell people to convert? I struggle with this mindset because it's not the way I was raised, and some Bible verses, like Matthew 23:37 seem to contradict it. Honestly, I can find Bible verses that seem to support each view. It's confusing. Still, I guess if you are unsaved and feel convicted that you should be saved and want to be, you can be -- so was that your will deciding it, or were you "in" all along and you just now realized it? I know, I'm getting way too deep here for a book review :)
I was really impressed with Baxter's heart for the lost. "If we would plead with them with tears to turn, we still cannot persuade them. What more can we do?"
"Heaven will make up for the loss of anything that we can lose to obtain it, or for any labor that we expend for it, but nothing can pay for the loss of heaven." Love this thought!
I have a few in my world who I wish would read this book -- but again, those who need it would be unlikely to read it. "Now or later, you must come to this -- either to be converted, or to wish you had been when it is too late." I so wish pastors today would preach like this! I'm sure it would empty out some churches, but no doubt it would save some souls.
"The wisdom of God has thought proper to place people's salvation or destruction exceedingly much upon the choice of their own will so that no one will go to heaven who did not choose the way to heaven, and no one will go to hell who will not be obligated to say, 'I have what I chose. My own will brought me here.'"
Highly recommended.
May 16, 2012
Another book for required reading in our ministry. He wrote this book while in prison and distributed it to the families in his town when he was released. His pastors heart for lost souls just pours through the pages.
April 20, 2017
Good Words
Good Words to stir up a proper mindset on living in the Word of God. Too often, we allow the world to dictate to us how to live and what we can and cannot think. Instead, we need to see our lives from God's perspective because that's all that matters.
Good Words to stir up a proper mindset on living in the Word of God. Too often, we allow the world to dictate to us how to live and what we can and cannot think. Instead, we need to see our lives from God's perspective because that's all that matters.
December 11, 2022
You can hear him pleading!
What a great book! Heart breaking and heart stirring!! Lord, help me to be so much more passionate and concerned about eternal welfare... Give me a love for people that offers You and You alone as remedy 💜
What a great book! Heart breaking and heart stirring!! Lord, help me to be so much more passionate and concerned about eternal welfare... Give me a love for people that offers You and You alone as remedy 💜
August 22, 2020
It helps you plead with lost souls.
September 27, 2024
Valuable plea to the reader on a topic of ultimate importance: your eternal destiny. Baxter vividly presents the choice between the terror of endless hell and the glory of a relationship with God and eternity in heaven.
It's a short book (48 pages), yet somewhat long-winded and repetitive. It's not always easy to follow; you need to stay focused to follow Baxter's train of thought. There are no chapters, and many paragraphs are long. This isn't surprising given that it was published in 1657. This version has several typos.
Notes
An unconverted person's goal in life is to please self and use all things for this purpose. A converted person's goal is to please God and use all things for God and to support their journey toward heaven, and be willing to give all those things up for that goal.
Avoiding certain sins for a time isn't necessarily true conversion.
Fearing hell, being convicted by conscience, promising to do better, behaving civilly, and being outwardly religious isn't necessarily true conversion.
Outwardly good actions, if done for self rather than God, aren't signs of true conversion.
An unconverted person may do things that please God as long as they also please self. A converted person will do things that God even when they displease self.
Questions to ask self
� Do you see the heinousness of your sin and need for a savior?
� Do you love Christ and see God as glorious?
� Do you hate your past and present sin?
� Do you flee sins as deadly enemies?
� Do you love and delight in dedicating your life to holiness and obedience?
� Do you value heaven more than earth?
� Is God dearest and highest thing in your life?
� Is your purpose in life to get to to heaven and see God?
Should you prioritize pleasing your flesh before pleasing your Maker? Your conscience? Godly friends?
What is pleasant enough to be worth suffering eternal fire?
Conversion requires total change; you must be holy, a new creature, born again; it's not enough to patch up the old man without becoming new.
The most valuable things on earth aren't worth committing a single sin to gain.
You'll either convert or wish you had, when it's too late.
It's a short book (48 pages), yet somewhat long-winded and repetitive. It's not always easy to follow; you need to stay focused to follow Baxter's train of thought. There are no chapters, and many paragraphs are long. This isn't surprising given that it was published in 1657. This version has several typos.
Notes
An unconverted person's goal in life is to please self and use all things for this purpose. A converted person's goal is to please God and use all things for God and to support their journey toward heaven, and be willing to give all those things up for that goal.
Avoiding certain sins for a time isn't necessarily true conversion.
Fearing hell, being convicted by conscience, promising to do better, behaving civilly, and being outwardly religious isn't necessarily true conversion.
Outwardly good actions, if done for self rather than God, aren't signs of true conversion.
An unconverted person may do things that please God as long as they also please self. A converted person will do things that God even when they displease self.
Questions to ask self
� Do you see the heinousness of your sin and need for a savior?
� Do you love Christ and see God as glorious?
� Do you hate your past and present sin?
� Do you flee sins as deadly enemies?
� Do you love and delight in dedicating your life to holiness and obedience?
� Do you value heaven more than earth?
� Is God dearest and highest thing in your life?
� Is your purpose in life to get to to heaven and see God?
So that he [God] thus unfeignedly wills the conversion of those that never will be converted, but not as absolute Lord with the fullest efficacious resolution, nor as a thing which he resolves shall undoubtedly come to pass, or would engage all his power to accomplish. […] The judge may truly say to the thief or murderer, "Alas, man, I have no delight in your death; I had rather you had kept the law, and saved your life; but seeing you have not, I must condemn you, or else I should be unjust." [See Ezek 18:30-32.]God delights in justice and manifesting hatred for sin, but not in misery unbelievers bring on themselves.
Should you prioritize pleasing your flesh before pleasing your Maker? Your conscience? Godly friends?
What is pleasant enough to be worth suffering eternal fire?
Conversion requires total change; you must be holy, a new creature, born again; it's not enough to patch up the old man without becoming new.
The most valuable things on earth aren't worth committing a single sin to gain.
You'll either convert or wish you had, when it's too late.
If you will be converted and saved, be much in secret serious consideration. Inconsiderateness undoes the world. Withdraw yourselves often into retired secrecy, and there bethink you of the end why you were made; of the life you have lived; the time you have lost; the sin you have committed; of the love and sufferings, and fulness of Christ; of the danger you are in; of the nearness of death and judgment; of the certainty and excellency of the joys of heaven; and of the certainty and terror of the torments of hell; and eternity of both; and of the necessity of conversion and a holy life. Steep your hearts in such considerations as these.
Betake yourselves to God in a course of earnest constant prayer. Confess and lament your former lives, and beg his grace to illuminate and convert you. Beseech him to pardon what is past, and to give you his Spirit, and change your hearts and lives, and lead you in his ways, and save you from temptations. And ply this work daily, and be not weary of it.Make serious efforts to stop sinning. Avoid bad influences.
September 8, 2021
Stunned!
No wonder George Whitefield listed this book among those that were most beneficial to his conversion. You must read it slowly and carefully due to the sentence structure, but if you do - it will have a powerful impact on your life. I’m already resolved to reading it again, much more slowly than I did at first and take in as much as I possibly can. This is convicting even to the holiest saint, which I am far from. Sadly, you don’t hear this kind of preaching anymore. This book will change your life.
No wonder George Whitefield listed this book among those that were most beneficial to his conversion. You must read it slowly and carefully due to the sentence structure, but if you do - it will have a powerful impact on your life. I’m already resolved to reading it again, much more slowly than I did at first and take in as much as I possibly can. This is convicting even to the holiest saint, which I am far from. Sadly, you don’t hear this kind of preaching anymore. This book will change your life.
May 15, 2023
It is a great book to convict the unbelieving. It's interesting that back then if it was published it would have been considered important so unbelievers would have read it, and I'm sure it has done its job, calling people into the church. Today a unbeliever would never organically read this call to turn and live, but would be moved one way or the other by a gospel tract. It was a good book all in all.
April 4, 2025
Quaint by today's standards but so very practical. If you can read this book with no fear of the reality of your salvation, I think you may need to read it again. Sobering words, clear though occasionally wordy standards for salvation, and a definite focus on the need for sanctification. Certainly not works based salvation but clearly Lordship salvation. How can I do this thing and sin against my Lord?! A must-read. This needs to be updated for modern readers in words they readily understand.
July 23, 2020
There is every reason in Heaven and earth to turn to Christ and live, and therefore the most compelling, gripping, logical, Biblical arguments ought to be blended with all the passion that divine grace has given to a Christian for his use in converting sinners.
The whole book is a sermon or series of sermons from Ezekiel 33:11.
Say to them, ‘As I live!� declares the Lord GOD, ‘I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn back, turn back from your evil ways! Why then will you die, O house of Israel?�
Quotes:
"Death will bring such an argument as you canst not answer." page 9
"Heaven will pay for the loss of anything that we can lose to get it; but nothing can pay for the loss of Heaven." page 90
"There is no way to happiness but by holiness; and yet you will not be holy." page 111
"Some men are such favorable judges of themselves, that they are proner to accuse the infinite perfection and goodness itself than their own hearts." page 113
"If ever you will do anything for me, grant me this request, to turn from your evil ways and live. Deny me anything that ever I shall ask of you for myself, if you will but grant me this. And if you deny me this, I care not for anything else that you would grant me." page 126
"Now while you are reading, or hearing this, resolve. Before you sleep another night, resolve. Before you stir from the place, resolve. Before Satan have time to take you off, resolve." page 133
The whole book is a sermon or series of sermons from Ezekiel 33:11.
Say to them, ‘As I live!� declares the Lord GOD, ‘I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn back, turn back from your evil ways! Why then will you die, O house of Israel?�
Quotes:
"Death will bring such an argument as you canst not answer." page 9
"Heaven will pay for the loss of anything that we can lose to get it; but nothing can pay for the loss of Heaven." page 90
"There is no way to happiness but by holiness; and yet you will not be holy." page 111
"Some men are such favorable judges of themselves, that they are proner to accuse the infinite perfection and goodness itself than their own hearts." page 113
"If ever you will do anything for me, grant me this request, to turn from your evil ways and live. Deny me anything that ever I shall ask of you for myself, if you will but grant me this. And if you deny me this, I care not for anything else that you would grant me." page 126
"Now while you are reading, or hearing this, resolve. Before you sleep another night, resolve. Before you stir from the place, resolve. Before Satan have time to take you off, resolve." page 133
January 31, 2023
The author's introduction shook me so much, and I feel more ready than ever to turn to Jesus, but by the end of the book I still feel like I don't know how.
The other thing that has stuck with me is a new conviction against doing activities for the sake of fun. I'd already seen Bible passages against luxury, riches, self-indulgence, pleasure-seeking, and conformity to the world. I'd also already read Christian authors against the theaters, fancy foods, and fancy clothes. But Richard Baxter boldly stands against ease, leisure, sports, fun, and entertainment!
Truly we are meant to enjoy pleasure and comfort. But God promises these things in abundance to his saints. The gentiles seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. But seek first the kingdom and these things will be added to you. If we love the world, we do not have the love of the Father.
The other thing that has stuck with me is a new conviction against doing activities for the sake of fun. I'd already seen Bible passages against luxury, riches, self-indulgence, pleasure-seeking, and conformity to the world. I'd also already read Christian authors against the theaters, fancy foods, and fancy clothes. But Richard Baxter boldly stands against ease, leisure, sports, fun, and entertainment!
Truly we are meant to enjoy pleasure and comfort. But God promises these things in abundance to his saints. The gentiles seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. But seek first the kingdom and these things will be added to you. If we love the world, we do not have the love of the Father.
April 29, 2018
It’s admittedly an odd book for a committed Christian to read � preaching to the choir, etc. Baxter nevertheless captures the urgency of the gospel call, the vociferous passion God has for the unrepentant to abandon their wickedness, and the supreme glories of new life in Christ. There were several times the book (collection of sermons?) was excessively dense, but that’s likely a reflection on my own attention span and personality than a criticism of Baxter.
August 12, 2016
Only read the "Call", not other books in this volume
December 12, 2020
Hard but needed preaching.
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