A26932:147
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.
SECT. X.
2. Take heed to your selves; For you have a depraved nature, and sinful inclinations as well as others. If innocent Adam had need of heed, •nd lost himself and us for want of it, how much more need have such as we? sin dwelleth in us, when we have preached never so much against it. And one degree prepareth the heart to another, and ⟨p. 28⟩one sin inclineth the mind to more; If one thief be in the house, he will let in the rest; because they have the same disposition and design. A spark is the beginning of a flame: and a small disease may bring a greater. A man that knows himself to be purblind, should take heed to his feet. Alas, even in our hearts as well as in our hearers, there is an averseness to God, a strangeness to him, unreasonable and almost unruly passions. In us there is at the best the remnants of pride, unbelief self seeking, hypocrisy, and all the most hateful deadly sins. And doth it not then concern us to take heed? Is so much of the fire of hell yet unextinguished, that at first was kindled in us? Are there so many Traitors in our very hearts, and is it not time for us to take heed? You will scarce let your little children go themselves while they are weak, without calling upon them to take heed of falling. And alas how weak are those of us that seem strongest? How apt to stumble at a very straw? How small a matter will cast us down, by ticing us to folly, or kindling our passions and inordinate desires, by perverting our Judgements, or abating our resolutions, and cooling our zeal, and dulling our diligence? Ministers are not only sons of Adam, but sinners against the Grace of Christ as well as others, and so have increased their radical sin. Those treacherous hearts will one time or other deceive you, if you take not heed. Those sins that seem now to lie dead will revive: Your pride, and worldliness, and many a noisome vice will spring up, that you thought had been weeded out by the roots. It is most necessary therefore, that men of such infirmities should take heed