A26932:136
Gildas Salvianus: The Reformed Pastor
Gildas Salvianus, the reformed pastor showing the nature of the pastoral work, especially in private instruction and catechizing : with an open confession of our too open sins : prepared for a day of humiliation kept at Worcester, Decemb. 4, 1655 by the ministers of that county, who subscribed the agreement for catechizing and personal instruction at their entrance upon that work / by their unworthy fellow-servant, Richard Baxter ...Gildas Salvianus, the reformed pastor shewing the nature of the pastoral work, especially in private instruction and catechizing : with an open confession of our too open sins : prepared for a day of humiliation kept at Worcester, Decemb. 4, 1655 by the ministers of that county, who subscribed the agreement for catechizing and personal instruction at their entrance upon that work / by their unworthy fellow-servant, Richard Baxter ...
London: printed by Robert White for Nevil Simmons, 1656
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Their best Arguments are, I will not believe you, nor all the Preachers in the world in such things. I will not change my mind, or life: I will not leave my sins; I will never be so precise, come on it what will. We have not one, but multitudes of raging passions, and contradicting enemies to dispute against at once, whenever we go about the conversion of a sinner; as if a man were to dispute in a Fair or tumult, or in the midst of a crowd of violent scolds: what equal dealing, and what success were here to be expected? why such is our work, and yet a work that must be done.
O Dear Brethren what men should we be in skill, resolution & unwearied diligence, that have all this to ⟨p. 19⟩do? Did Paul cry out, who is sufficient for these things? 2 Cor. 2. 16. and shall we be proud or careless, and lazy, as if we were sufficient: As Peter saith to every Christian in Consideration of our great approaching change, 2 Pet. 3. 11. What manner of persons ought we to be in all holy Conversation and Godliness? so may I say to every minister, seeing all these things do lie upon our hands, What manner of persons ought we to be in all holy Endeavours and Resolutions for our work! This is not a burden for the shoulders of a child. What skill doth every part of our work require? and of how much moment is every part? To preach a Sermon I think is not the hardest part; and yet what skill is necessary to make plain the truth, to convince the hearers; to let in unresistible light into their consciences, and to keep it there, and drive all home! to screw the truth into their minds, and work Christ into their affections; to meet with every objection that gainsays; and clearly to resolve it; to drive sinners to a stand, and make them see that there is no hope, but they must unavoidably be converted or condemned: and to do all this so for language and manner as beseems our work, and yet as is most suitable to the capacities of the hearers, this and a great deal more that should be done in every Sermon, should sure be done with a great deal of holy skill. So great a God whose message we deliver, should be honoured by our delivery of it! It is a lamentable case, that in a message from the God of heaven, of everlasting consequence to the souls of men we should behave our selves so weakly, so unhandsomely, so imprudently, or so slightly, that the whole business should