This is a book that I have always wanted to read, but heard much about how long and difficult it was to read. This edition of the book was absolutely perfect. It was incredibly focused and helpful. It was easy to follow along and seemed to have the meat of Baxter's thoughts. Each chapter begins with a helpful description of what is to come. One of my favorite parts of the book was a detailed outline at the end that really summarized the entire book and every point Baxter made. This book is simply a must read for any pastor. It is as relevant now as it was almost four hundred years ago. I hope that this edition will get every pastor who has never read it, like me, to pick it up and glean from it.

Note: This review will not be directed at the content of the book as written by Richard Baxter, but as to the quality of the abridgment. Two primary reasons are that this book contains roughly 1/5 of the word count of the original, and the original is nearly 370 years old. There are many reviews, critiques, and recommendations of the original, and certainly, there can be no truly critical engagement of such an abridgment.

Why would you buy another abridgment of Richard Baxter’s The Reformed Pastor? In volume 14 of The Practical Works of Richard Baxter, we find approximately 350-400 pages devoted to a copy of this book. The Banner of Truth version in the Puritan Paperback series shortens it to approximately 200 very dense and small print pages (not counting the introductions).

Tim Cooper has edited this version published by Crossway into approximately 100 pages (not counting the introduction). Most importantly, it is now in a modern, readable typeset! Having read parts of the original book in high-quality scans from the Internet Archive and the Banner of Truth version, I am most appreciative of this update.

Cooper provides a helpful introduction providing the background to the original text and explains his process of editing. Some of it involved removing long Latin quotes, material that comes across as repetitive, and modernized verb endings. Included at the beginning of each chapter is a summary and questions for reflection at the end. As I read, I certainly see the work of Richard Baxter coming through. Cooper excels in editing an abridgment which (1) lets the emphasis of the original shine through, and (2) makes the original significantly more accessible.

I would recommend this book to anyone who has desired to read Richard Baxter but found the idea to be daunting, for those considering ministry and what it may look like, and those who are in ministry and have not read The Reformed Pastor. This abridgment is an excellent addition making a classic text more readily available. I would love to see ministers gather together and go through this book. Baxter challenges the minister to live in a manner that glorifies God, provides encouragement and practical application, and warns of common pitfalls.