Gildas Salvianus: The Reformed Pastor

Who is able to talk of Controversies or nice unnecessary points, yea or truths of a lower degree of necessity, how excellent soever, while he seeth a company of ignorant, carnal, miserable sinners before his face, that must be changed or damned? Me thinks I even see them entering upon their final woe! Me thinks I even hear them crying out for help, and speedyest help. Their misery speaks the louder, because they have not hearts to seek or ask for help themselves. Many a time have I known, that I had some hearers of higher fancies, that looked for rarities, and were addicted to despise the Ministry, if he told them not somewhat more then ordinary; and yet I could not find in my heart to turn from the observation of the necessities of the impenitent, for the humouring of these, nor to leave speaking to the apparently miserable for their salvation, to speak to such novelists, for the clawing of their ears; no nor so much as otherwise should be done, to the weak for their confirmation, and increase in grace. Me thinks as Pauls Spirit was stirred within him, when he saw the Athenians so addicted to Idolatry, Acts 17. 16. so it should cast us into one of his paroxysms, to see so many ⟨p. 71⟩men in great probability of being everlastingly undone; and if by faith we did indeed look upon them as within a step of hell, it should more effectually untie our tongues, then they tell us that Croesus danger did his sons. He that will let a sinner go to hell for want of speaking to him, doth set less by souls then the Redeemer of souls did, and less by his neighbour then rational Charity will allow him to do by his greatest enemy. O therefore Brethren, whomsoever you neglect, neglect not the most miserable! Whatever you pass over, forget not poor souls that are under the condemnation and curse of the Law, and may look every hour for the infernal execution, if a speedy change do not prevent it. O call after the impenitent, and ply this great work of converting souls whatever else you leave undone.

Who is able to talk of Controversies or nice unnecessary points, yea or truths of a lower degree of necessity, how excellent soever, while he seeth a company of ignorant, carnal, miserable sinners before his face, that must be chang'd or damn'd? Me thinks I even see them entring upon their final woe! Me thinks I even hear them crying out for help, and speedyest help. Their misery speaks the lowder, because they have not hearts to seek or ask for help themselves. Many a time have I known, that I had some hearers of higher fancies, that lookt for rarities, and were addicted to despise the Ministery, if he told them not somewhat more then ordinary; and yet I could not find in my heart to turn from the observation of the necessities of the impenitent, for the humouring of these, nor to leave speaking to the apparently miserable for their salvation, to speak to such novelists, for the clawing of their ears; no nor so much as otherwise should be done, to the weak for their confirmation, and increase in grace. Me thinks as Pauls Spirit was stir'd within him, when he saw the Athenians so addicted to Idolatry,