A26932:200
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.
By which it is manifest, that before a man is capable of being a true Pastor of a Church according to the mind of Christ, he must have so high an estimation of these things, that they may be indeed his ends.
1. That man therefore that is not himself taken up with the predominant love of God, and is not himself devoted to him, and doth not devote to him all that he hath and can do; that man that is not addicted to the pleasing of God, and maketh him not the Centre of all his actions, and liveth not to him as his God and Happiness: That is, that man that is not a sincere Christian himself, is utterly unfit to be a Pastor of a Church.
1. That man therefore that is not himself takenup with the predominant love of God, and is not himself devoted to him, and doth not devote to him all that he hath and can do; that man that is not addicted to the pleasing of God, and maketh him not the Center of all his actions, and liveth not to him as his God and Happiness: That is, that man that is not a sincere Christian himself, is utterly unfit to be a Pastor of a Church.
And if we be not in a case of desperate necessity, the Church should not admit such, so far as they can discover them. Though to inferior common works (as to teach the Languages, and some Philosophy, to translate Scriptures, &c.) they may be admitted. A man that is not heartily devoted to God, & addicted to his service & honour, will never set heartily about the Pastoral work: nor indeed can he possibly (while he remaineth such) do one part of that work, no nor of any other, nor speak one word in Christian sincerity. For no man can be sincere in the means, that is not so in his intentions of the end. A man must heartily Love God above all, ⟨p. 56⟩