Richard Baxter (1615 - 1691), was an English Puritan church leader, poet, hymn-writer, theologian, and controversialist. His intellect was brilliant, his writing was prolific, and was used of God to bring to repentance many who had strayed from the faith. His call to repentance is born out of love and a burning passion for those who do not yet know Christ. He urges all to flee to Christ to avoid the wrath to come, and receive the mercy they require, and rest for their souls. "We tell you also of another death; even remediless and much greater torment, that will fall on those that will not be converted. But, as this is true, and must be told you, so it is but the last and saddest part of our message. We are first to offer you mercy if you will turn; and it is only those that will not turn, nor hear the voice of mercy, to whom we must foretell damnation to."