A26932:240
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.
3. Another sort that our work is about, is Declining Christians, that are either fallen into some scandalous sin, or else abate their zeal and diligence, and show us that they have lost their former Love! As the case of back-sliders is very sad, so our diligence must be great for their recovery. Its sad to ⟨p. 75⟩them to lose so much of their Life, and peace, and serviceableness to God: and to become so serviceable to Satan & his cause. It is sad to us to see that all our labour is come to this, and that when we have taken so much pains with men, and bad so much hopes of them, all should be so far frustrate. It is saddest of all to think that God should be so abused by those that he hath so loved, and done so much for, and that the enemy should get such advantage upon his graces, and that Christ should be so wounded in the house of a friend, and the name of God evil spoken of among the wicked through such; and all that fear God should be reproached for their sakes. Besides that partial back-sliding hath a natural tendency to total Apostasy, and would effect it, if special grace prevent it not.
3. Another sort that our work is about, is Declining Christians, that are either fallen into some scandalous sin, or else abate their zeal and diligence, and shew us that they have lost their former Love! As the case of back-sliders is very sad, so our diligence must be great for their recovery. Its sad to ⟨p. 75⟩them to lose so much of their Life, and peace, and serviceableness to God: and to become so serviceable to Satan & his cause. It is sad to us to see that al our labour is come to this, and that when we have taken so much pains with men, and bad so much hopes of them, all should be so far frustrate. It is saddest of all to think that God should be so abused by those that he hath so loved, and done so much for, and that the enemy should get such advantage upon his graces, and that Christ should be so wounded in the house of a friend, and the name of God evil spoken of among the wicked through such; and all that fear God should be reproached for their sakes. Besides that partial back-sliding hath a natural tendency to total Apostacie, and would effect it, if special grace prevent it not.