Gildas Salvianus: The Reformed Pastor

Publicans and Harlots do sooner come to heaven then Pharisees, because they are sooner convinced of their sin & misery.

And though many of these men may seem excellent Preachers, and cry down sin as loud as others, yet is it all but an affected fervency, and too commonly but a mere uneffectual bawling. For he that cherisheth it in his own heart, doth never fall upon it in good sadness in others. I know that a wicked man may be more willing of another's reformation then his own, and may thence have a kind of real earnestness in dissuading them from it; because he can preach against sin at easier rates then he can forsake it, and another mans reformation may stand with his own enjoyments of his lusts. And therefore many a wicked Minister or Parent may be earnest with their people or family to amend, because they lose not their own sinful profits or pleasures by another's reformation, nor doth it call them to that self denial as their own doth. But yet for all this, there is none of that zeal, resolution and diligence, as is in all that are true to Christ. They set not against sin as the enemy of Christ, and as that which endangereth their peoples souls. A traitorous Commander, that shooteth nothing against the enemy but powder, may cause his Guns to make as great a sound or report, ⟨p. 44⟩as some that are laden with bullets: but he doth no hurt to the enemy by it. So one of these men may speak as loud, and mouth it with an affected fervency: but he seldom doth any great execution against sin and Satan. No man can fight well, but where he hateth, or is very angry: Much less against them whom he loveth, and loveth above all. Every unrenewed man is so far from hating sin to purpose, that it is his dearest treasure; though not as sin, yet the matter of it is, as it affordeth delight to his sensual desires. So that you may see, that an unsanctified man is very unfit to be a Leader in Christs Army, who loveth the enemy; and to draw others to renounce the world and the flesh, who cleaveth to them himself as his chiefest Good.

And though many of these men may seem excellent Preachers, and cry down sin as loud as others, yet is it all but an affected fervency, and too commonly but a meer uneffectual bawling. For he that cherisheth it in his own heart, doth never fall upon it in good sadness in others. I know that a wicked man may be more willing of anothers reformation then his own, and may thence have a kind of real earnestness in disswading them from it; because he can preach against sin at easier rates then he can forsake it, and another mans reformation may stand with his own enjoyments of his lusts. And therefore many a wicked Minister or Parent may be earnest with their people or family to amend, because they lose not their own sinful profits or pleasures by anothers reformation, nor doth it call them to that self denyal as their own doth. But yet for all this, there is none of that zeal, resolution and diligence, as is in all that are true to Christ. They set not against sin as the enemy of Christ, and as that which endangereth their peoples souls. A trayterous Commander, that shooteth nothing against the enemy but powder, may cause his Guns to make as great a sound or report,