A26932:218
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.
But I will pass over all these, and mention only one passage in Ignatius or whoever it was I matter not much seeing it is but to prove what was then the custom of the Church) ad Polycarp. [Greek or Hebrew]. i. e. Let Assemblies ⟨p. 63⟩be often gathered; seek after (or enquire of) all by name: despise not servant-men or maids. You see it was then taken for a duty to look after every member of the flock by name, though it were the meanest servant-man or maid. The Reasons of the necessity of this I shall pass over now, because some of them will fall in when we come to the duty of Catechizing and personal instruction in the end.
But I will pass over all these, and mention only one passage in Ignatius or whoever it was I matter not much seeing it is but to prove what was then the custom of the Church) ad Polycarp. 〈non-Latin alphabet〉. i. e. Let Assemblies ⟨p. 63⟩be often gathered; seek after (or enquire of) all by name: despise not servant-men or maids. You see it was then taken for a duty to look after every member of the flock by name, though it were the meanest servant-man or maid. The Reasons of the necessity of this I shall pass over now, because some of them will fall in when we come to the duty of Catechizing and personal instruction in the end.
Obj. But the Congregation that I am set over is so great that it is not possible for me to know them all, much less to take heed of all individuals.
Answ. 1. Is it necessity or not that hath cast you upon such a charge? If it be not, you excuse one sin with another: How durst you undertake that which you knew your self unable to perform, when you were not forced to it? It seems then you had some other ends in your undertaking, and never intended to make it good, and be faithful to your trust. But if you think that you were necessitated to it, I must ask you, 1. Might not you possibly have procured assistance for so great a charge? Have you done all that you could with your friends and neighbours to get maintenance for another to help you? 2. Have you not so much maintenance yourself as might serve your self and another? What though it will not serve to maintain you in fullness? Is it not more reason that you should pinch your flesh and family, then undertake a work that you cannot do, and neglect the souls of so many men? I know it will seem hard to some that I say; But to me it seems an unquestionable thing: