A26932:219
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.
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: ⟨p. 64⟩That if you have but an hundred pounds a year, it is your duty to live upon part of it, and allow the rest to a competent assistant, rather then the Flock that you are over should be neglected. If you say, That this is hard measure; your wife and children cannot so live. I answer, 1. Do not many families in your Parish live on less? 2. Have not many able Ministers in the Prelates days been glad of less, with liberty to preach the Gospel? There are some yet living (as I have heard) that have offered the Bishops to enter into bond to preach for nothing, so they might but have had liberty to preach. 3. If still you say, that you cannot live so nearly as poor people do, I further ask; Can your Parishioners better endure damnation, then you can endure want and poverty? What, do you call your selves Ministers of the Gospel, and yet are the souls of men so base in your eyes that you had rather they did eternally perish, then your selves and family should live in a low and poor condition? Nay, should you not rather beg your bread, then put such a thing as mens salvation upon a hazard, or disadvantage? Yea or hazard the damnation but of one soul? O Sirs, it is a miserable thing when men study and talk of Heaven and Hell, and the fewness of the saved, and the difficulty of salvation, and be not all this while in good sadness!