A26932:154
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. XIII.
5. Take heed to your selves also, because there are many eyes upon you, and therefore there will be many observers of your falls. You cannot miscarry but the world will ring of it. The Eclipses of the Sun by day time are seldom without witnesses. If you take your selves for the Lights of the Churches, you may well expect that mens eyes should be upon you. If other men may sin without observation, so cannot you. And you should thankfully consider, how great a mercy this is, That you have so many eyes to watch over you, and so many ready to tell you of your faults, and so have greater helps then others, at least for the restraining of your sin. Though they may do it with a malicious mind, yet you have the advantage by it: God forbid that we should prove so impudent, as to do evil in the public view of all, and to sin wilfully while the world is gazing on us! He that is drunk, is drunk in the night; and he that sleepeth, ⟨p. 33⟩doth sleep in the night, 1 These. 5. 7. What fornicator so impudent as to sin in the open streets while all look on? Why consider that you are still in the open light; Even the Light of your own Doctrine will disclose your evil doings. While you are as Lights set upon a hill, look not to lie hid, Mat. 5. 14. Take heed therefore to your selves, and do your works as those that remember that the world looks on them, and that with the quick-sighted eye of malice, ready to make the worst of all, and to find the smallest fault where it is, and aggravate it where they find it, and divulge it and make it advantageous to their designs; and to make faults where they cannot find them. How cautiously then should we walk before so many ill-minded observers!