A26932:137
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.
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 ⟨p. 20⟩miscarry in our hands, and God be dishonoured, and his work disgraced, and sinners rather hardened then converted, and all this much through our weakness or neglect! How many a time have carnal hearers gone jeering home at the palpable and dishonourable failings of the Preacher! How many sleep under us, because our hearts and tongues are sleepy: and we bring not with us so much skill and zeal as to awake them!