1694 RICHARD BAXTER. Rare Post-Death Work on Universal Redemption. Very Scarce Against Limited Atonment.

The 1694 headline when this hit the bookstore shelves was the equivalent of, "Whoa! Richard Baxter drops limited atonement dis track on Owen from the grave." 

Baxter was the most popular and prolific of all the Puritan divines. He was very much supportive of and supported by a significant number of the Presbyterian, Congregational, and even Baptist divines. But there had always been "wonderings" about him and his view of limited atonement. He had considered being a missionary to China; radical for the time. He preached as though all men could be saved. Also, not very puritany. Questions surrounding this issue popped up over and again over the years.

Little did they know, he was writing a full disclosure on the subject to be published by order of his will after his death. By some it was considered an act of cowardice. By others, it was understood that he did not want to detract from the central passion of his many years of ministry, i.e. preaching Christ and Him crucified to all people. 

It was immediately repudiated and responded to. He was kindly rebuffed by some; drawn and quartered in the Spirit by others. It was published but once with very few copies surviving. 

I have been buying and selling Baxter for about 30 years. To my recollection, this is the only copy we have ever handled. It is imperfect, but it may be about as good as it gets. 

Baxter, Richard. Universal Redemption of Mankind by the Lord Jesus Christ Stated and Cleared by the Late Learned, Mr. Richard Baxter. Whereunto is added a Short Account of Special Redemption. By the Same Author. London. Printed for John Salisbury at the Rising-Sun in Cornhill. 1694. First Edition. 502pp. 

A poor copy with faults, bound in leather, nearly disbound, handled pages that begins on p. 3 of the book text proper, thus lacking the title [1], Epistle Dedicatory [2pp]; To the Reader [4pp], and the first 2pp [1 leaf] of text.