A26932:170
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.
2. Can you think that he is likely to be as successful as others, that dealeth not heartily and faithfully in his work, & never soundly believeth what he saith, & never is truly serious when he seemeth to be most ⟨p. 40⟩ligent? And can you think that any unsanctified man can be hearty and serious in the ministerial work? It cannot be. A kind of seriousness indeed he may have, such as proceedeth from a common faith or opinion that the word is true, and is actuated by a natural fervour, or by selfish ends: But the seriousness and fidelity of a sound believer that ultimately intendeth God and mens salvation, this he hath not. O Sirs, all your preaching and persuading of others will be but dreaming and trifling hypocrisy, till the work be throughly done upon your selves. How can you set your selves day and night to a work that your carnal hearts are averse from? How can you call out with serious fervour upon poor sinners to repent and come in to God, that never Repented or came in your selves? How can you heartily follow poor sinners with importunate solicitations, to take heed of sin, and to set themselves to a holy life, that never felt your selves the evil of sin, or the worth of holiness? I tell you, these things are never well known till they are felt, nor well felt till they are possessed: And he that feeleth them not himself, is not so like to speak feelingly to others, nor to help others to the feeling of them. How can you follow sinners with compassion in your hearts, and tears in your eyes, and beseech them in the name of the Lord to stop their course and return and live, that never had so much compassion on your own souls as to do this much for your selves? What, can you love other men better then your selves? and have pity on them that have none upon your selves? Sirs, do you think they will be hearty and diligent to save men from hell, that be not ⟨p. 41⟩heartily persuaded that there is a hell? Or to bring men to heaven, that do not soundly believe that there is such a thing? As Calvin saith on my Text; Neque enim aliorum salutem sedulo unquam curabit qui suam negligit. He that hath not so strong a belief of the word of God, and the life to come, as will take off his own heart from the vanities of this world, and set him upon a resolved diligence for salvation, I cannot expect that he should be faithful in seeking the salvation of other men.