Gildas Salvianus: The Reformed Pastor

4 And it is not a very likely thing that the people will regard much the Doctrine of such men, when they see that they do not live as they preach. They will think that he doth not mean as he speaks, if he do not as he speaks. They will hardly believe a man that seemeth not to believe himself. If a man bid you run for your lives, because a Bear, or an enemy is at your backs, and yet do not mend his pace himself in the same way, you will be tempted to think that he is but in jest, and there is really no such danger as he pretends. When preachers tell people of a necessity of Holiness, and that without it no man shall see the Lord, and yet remain unholy themselves, the people will think that they do but talk to pass away the hour, and because they must say somewhat for their money, and that all these be but words of course. Long enough may you lift up your voices ⟨p. 45⟩against sin, before men will believe, that there is any such harm or danger in it as you talk of, as long as they see the same man that reproacheth it, to put it in his bosom, and make it his delight. You rather tempt them to think that there is some special good in it, and that you dispraise it as gluttons do a dish which they love, that they may have it all to themselves. As long as men have eyes as well as ears, they will think they see your meaning as well as hear it; and they are apter to believe their sight then their hearing, as being the more perfect sense. All that a Preacher doth is a kind of preaching; And when you live a covetous or a careless life, you preach these sins to your people by your practice. When you drink, or game, or prate away your time in vain discourse, they take it as if you told them, Neighbours, this is that life that you should all live: you may venture on this course without any danger. If you are ungodly, and teach not your families the fear of God, nor contradict not the sins of the company you come into, nor turn the stream of their vain talking, nor deal with them plainly about the matters of their salvation, they will take it as if you preached to them that such things are needless, and they may boldly do so as well as you. Yea, and you do worse then all this, for you teach them to think ill of others that are better. How many a faithful Minister & private man is hated and reproached for the sake of such as you? What say the people to them?

4 And it is not a very likely thing that the people will regard much the Doctrine of such men, when they see that they do not live as they preach. They will think that he doth not mean as he speaks, if he do not as he speaks. They will hardly believe a man that seemeth not to believe himself. If a man bid you run for your lives, because a Bear, or an enemy is at your backs, and yet do not mend his pace himself in the same way, you will be tempted to think that he is but in jest, and there is really no such danger as he pretends. When preachers tell people of a necessity of Holiness, and that without it no man shall see the Lord, and yet remain unholy themselves, the people will think that they do but talk to pass away the hour, and because they must say somewhat for their money, and that all these be but words of course. Long enough may you lift up your voices