Preached as a dying Man to dying Men

Some time ago there appeared in this series (Vol. i., p. 415.) a question respecting a pulpit-phrase which has occasionally been used by preachers, delivering their messages as "dying men to dying men." This was rightly traced (Vol. ii., p. 28.) to a couplet of the celebrated Richard Baxter, who, in one of his latest works, speaking of his ministerial exercises, says,— "I preach'd as never sure to preach again, And as a dying man to dying men." The passage occurs in one of his "Poetical Fragments," entitled "Love breathing Thanks and Praise." This small volume of devotional verse is further en…