A26932:167
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. XVI.
8. Take heed to your selves; for the souls of your hearers, and the success of all your labours do very much depend upon it. God useth to fit men for great works, before he will make them his instruments in accomplishing them. He useth to exercise men in those works that they are most suited to. If the work of the Lord be not soundly done upon your own hearts, how can you expect that he should bless your labours for the effecting it in others? He may do it if he please, but you have much cause to doubt whether he will. I shall here show you some particular Reasons under this last, which may satisfy you, that He that would be a means of saving others, must take heed to himself, and that God doth more seldom prosper the labours of unsanctified men.
8. TAke heed to your selves; for the souls of your hearers, and the success of all your labours do very much depend upon it. God useth to fit men for great works, before he will make them his instruments in accomplishing them. He useth to exercise men in those works that they are most suited to. If the work of the Lord be not soundly done upon your own hearts, how can you expect that he should bless your labours for the effecting it in others? He may do it if he please, but you have much cause to doubt whether he will. I shall here shew you some particular Reasons under this last, which may satisfie you, that He that would be a means of saving others, must take heed to himself, and that God doth more seldom prosper the labours of unsanctified men.
Reas. 1. Can it be expected that God should bless that mans labours (I still mean comparatively, ⟨p. 39⟩as to other Ministers) who worketh not for God, but for himself? why this is the case of every unsanctified man. None but the upright do make God their chief end, and do all or any thing heartily for his honour: They make the Ministry but a trade to live by: They choose it rather then another calling, because their parents did destinate them to it, and because it is a pleasant thing to know, and it is a life wherein they have more opportunity to furnish their intellects with all kind of science; and because it is not so toilsome to the body, to those that have a will to favour their flesh; and because it is accompanied with some reverence and respect from men, and because they think it a fine thing to be Leaders and Teachers, and have others depend on them, and receive the Law at their mouth, and because it affordeth them a competent maintenance. For such ends as these are they ministers, and for these do they preach; and were it not for these, and such as these, they would soon give over. And can it be expected that God should much bless the labours of such men as these? It is not him they preach for, but themselves, and their own reputation or gain: It is not him but themselves that they seek and serve, and therefore no wonder if he leave them to themselves for the success, and if their labours have no greater a blessing then themselves can give them, and the word reach no further then their own strength is able to make it reach.