Richard Baxter (1615-91) is to Nonconformity what Ken is to Anglicanism. He might have been a bishop if he would, but preferred the rough ways of persecution for conscience’ sake to the pleasant paths of ecclesiastical preferment. He wrote many hymns, and attempted, with as little success as others, a metrical version of the psalms. He is, and will be, known to our hymn-books by the exquisite verses taken from his long poem on the ‘Covenant and Confidence of Faith.’ These verses, beginning
Now it belongs not to my care
Whether I die or live.
are in almost every hymn-book. Another of his hymns, in a brighter tone, is in many collections—
Ye holy angels bright.
The two following are not so well known. They are good in themselves, and very characteristic of their author.
As for my friends, they are not lost:
The several vessels of Thy fleet,
Though parted now, by tempests tost,
Shall safely in the haven meet.