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Sunday, December 10, 2023

The Love Story of Richard Baxter and Margaret Charlton

The love story of π‘π’πœπ‘πšπ«π 𝐁𝐚𝐱𝐭𝐞𝐫 and 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐭 π‚π‘πšπ«π₯𝐭𝐨𝐧 has been written about by many including Frederick J. Powicke (𝐴 π‘ƒπ‘’π‘Ÿπ‘–π‘‘π‘Žπ‘› 𝐼𝑑𝑦𝑙𝑙, π‘œπ‘Ÿ, π‘‡β„Žπ‘’ 𝑅𝑒𝑣. π‘…π‘–π‘β„Žπ‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘‘ π΅π‘Žπ‘₯π‘‘π‘’π‘Ÿ'𝑠 πΏπ‘œπ‘£π‘’ π‘†π‘‘π‘œπ‘Ÿπ‘¦ [1917]); John T. Wilkinson (π‘…π‘–π‘β„Žπ‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘‘ π΅π‘Žπ‘₯π‘‘π‘’π‘Ÿ π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘ π‘€π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘”π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘’π‘‘ πΆβ„Žπ‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘™π‘‘π‘œπ‘›: 𝐴 π‘ƒπ‘’π‘Ÿπ‘–π‘‘π‘Žπ‘› πΏπ‘œπ‘£π‘’ π‘†π‘‘π‘œπ‘Ÿπ‘¦ [1928]); J.I. Packer (𝐴 πΊπ‘Ÿπ‘–π‘’π‘“ π‘†π‘Žπ‘›π‘π‘‘π‘–π‘“π‘–π‘’π‘‘: π‘‡β„Žπ‘Ÿπ‘œπ‘’π‘”β„Ž π‘†π‘œπ‘Ÿπ‘Ÿπ‘œπ‘€ π‘‘π‘œ πΈπ‘‘π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘›π‘Žπ‘™ π»π‘œπ‘π‘’ [2002]); and many others, including Richard Baxter himself (𝐴 π΅π‘Ÿπ‘’π‘£π‘–π‘Žπ‘‘π‘’ π‘œπ‘“ π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ 𝐿𝑖𝑓𝑒 π‘œπ‘“ π‘€π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘”π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘’π‘‘, π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ π·π‘Žπ‘’π‘”β„Žπ‘‘π‘’π‘Ÿ π‘œπ‘“ πΉπ‘Ÿπ‘Žπ‘›π‘π‘–π‘  πΆβ„Žπ‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘™π‘‘π‘œπ‘› ... π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘ π‘Šπ‘–π‘“π‘’ π‘œπ‘“ π‘…π‘–π‘β„Žπ‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘‘ π΅π‘Žπ‘₯π‘‘π‘’π‘Ÿ [1681]).
Some of the details are less known than others, but the major thrust of the story is that Richard first met Margaret when she was in her late teens as a parishioner at Kidderminster, where he was serving as minister who was at that time (in the late 1650s) in his mid-40s. She came from a wealthy family, and although her mother had a serious interest in Richard's ministry, Margaret was at that time much more frivolous in her lifestyle. She became very ill and was close to death, but Richard and his congregation fasted and prayed, and the Lord was pleased to restore her to good health. Her heart was not only moved to trust in Christ in a way that she had not done before, but also to see her pastor in a new light. On the day of her recovery — April 10, 1660 — she gave special thanks to God, and entered into a personal covenant with the Lord. Ever after, she kept the anniversary of that event as a personal remembrance.
Three days later, Richard was called to London in connection with the Restoration, participating in the 1661 Savoy Conference, and attending to other matters related to the impending ecclesiastical situation (ie., the 1662 Act of Uniformity which would lead many Puritans ministers to be forcibly removed from their pulpits). Margaret and her mother decided to follow Richard to London. Although her mother died in January 1661, and this was a heavy blow to Margaret, she drew closer to Richard. He had written previously of the need for single ministers to remain single during the anticipated forthcoming period of persecution. Margaret had confided her feelings for Richard, however, to a mutual lady friend, who went to speak to Richard about the situation, while Margaret stood on the other side of the door unbeknownst to him. He responded to the effect “That since he had passed his youth in celibacy, it would be reputed madness in him to marry a young woman.”
He little thought that Margaret was at the door listening for his reply. She could not take a denial, so, entering the room, she made her own appeal. ‘Dear Mr. Baxter, I protest with a sincere and real heart, I do not make a tender of myself to you upon any worldly account, but to have a more frequent converse with so holy and prudent a yoke-fellow, to assist me in my way to heaven, and to keep me steadfast in my perseverance, which I design for God’s glory and my own soul’s good.'

Richard at last surrendered to the claims of love, and the couple was married on September 10, 1662. It was a wedding that was much talked about, and gave occasion to some enemies of the gospel to mock them, but for Richard and Margaret, it was true mutual devotion. She was steadfast with him in all of his persecutions, and her financial provision enabled him to write as much as he did in the years of trial and tribulation, including while he was in prison. She ran the household well, and he admired her for all of her gifts and talents. They sang Psalms together each morning and evening.
She died at the age of 42 on June 14, 1681. After her death, Richard wrote a Breviate of her life. His Poetical Fragments, written in their early days together, were published at this time as well. He wrote of her:
When we were married, her sadness and melancholy vanished [following her mother's death]…And we lived in inviolated love and mutual complacency sensible of the benefit of mutual help. These near nineteen years I know not that we ever had any breach in the point of love, or point of interest.
If they had disagreements, they were minor. Powicke says:
Nevertheless, we differed (he says) on two points. One was this — that he disliked her borrowing — 'unless in some public or extraordinary case,' whereas she thought 'that, while she could give security, she ought to borrow to relieve the poor, especially the most worthy.' The other point was this — that while he was for 'exercising prudence in discerning the degrees of need and worth,' she held 'that we ought to give more or less to everyone that asketh, if we have it.'
Richard, although much older, lived a full decade after Margaret's passing. His grief was a sanctified one; his tribute to her memory is deeply touching to all who read. Both lived for Christ, and as husband and wife, they encouraged each other in the faith. Their love story is an encouragement to many even centuries later.
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