Essayist, Maurice Roberts writing for “Banner of Truth” magazine in an article entitled Richard Baxter and His Gospel says:
”What is perhaps most interesting to us in the times in which we live is that he (Baxter) was a powerful instrument in the hands of God to promote true revival Surely this must be so. James Packer says that as the Vicar of Kidderminster in 1647-61 he converted 'just about the whole town'. Dr D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones could say this: 'Surely we must agree that in England in the case of Rogers of Dedham and Baxter at Kidderminster we are entitled to speak of revival'. Certainly these testimonies of modern writers and preachers is correct. Baxter's own testimony is this. He said that the Parish Church of his day held about a thousand persons but that in his time it was overflowing and no less than five galleries had to be erected in the church. Then he tells us this: 'On the Lord's days there was no disorder to be seen in the streets, but you might hear a hundred families singing psalms and repeating sermons as you passed through the streets. In a word, when I came thither [he means to Kidderminster] first, there was about one family in a street that worshipped God and called on his name. When I came away there were some streets where there was not more than one family in the side of a street that did not so'.
What does this hold for us today? Here was a man of God in the late 1600s, who catechized his whole flock (800 families) at the rate of 19 families per week each year, ministering in the teachings of the Scriptures. He personally poured his life into God’s people. Now you notice here that this man’s efforts were blessed mightily by God. He did not need modern methodologies, edgy music, flashy graphics and a marketing plan. He used the Scriptures. Notice what the church did; constructing “no less than five galleries”….that’s five capital building programs! Did Baxter do something new, something profoundly different than the historical church? No, read on
What happened on the Day of Pentecost? Peter preached the Gospel and five-thousand were added. What happened with the church? It exploded, why? The Spirit continued to work. You notice the key to this growth was the personal work of the Holy Spirit and He led them into the Truth as Christ explained in John 15:26. Acts 2:42 says, And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. You hear this? The key to the church’s growth was that they “continued in the Apostle’s Doctrine”. Are you a member of this type of church? If not, find one who is founded and focused on the Truth and rids itself of earthly programs, modern man-centered psychology and man-centered methods. Humbly.