Gildas Salvianus: The Reformed Pastor

4. Through the whole course of our Ministry, we must insist most upon the Greatest, most Certain and Necessary things, and be more seldom and sparing upon the rest. If we can but teach Christ to our people, we teach them all. Get them well to heaven, and they will have knowledge enough. The great and commonly acknowledged Truths are they that men must live upon, and which are the great instruments of raising the heart to God, and destroying mens sins. And therefore we must still have our peoples necessities in our eyes. It will take us off gauds, and needless Ornaments, and unprofitable Controversies, to remember that One thing is Necessary. Other things are desirable to be known, but these must be known, or else our people are undone for ever. I confess I think Necessity should be a great disposer of a Ministers course of study and labours. If we were sufficient for every thing, we might fall upon every thing, and take in order the whole Encyclopaedia: But life is short: and we are dull: and eternal things are necessary: and the souls that depend on our teaching are precious: I ⟨p. 121⟩confess Necessity hath been the Conductor of my studies and life: It chooseth what book I shall read, and tells when and how long? it chooseth my Text, and makes my Sermon for matter and manner, so far as I can keep out my own corruption. Though I know the constant expectation of death hath been a great cause of this, yet I know no reason why the most healthful man should not make sure of the Necessaries first, considering the uncertainty and shortness of all mens lives. Xenophon thought, there was no better Teacher then Necessity, which teacheth all things most diligently. Curtius saith, Efficacior est omni arte Necessitas. Who can in study, preaching, or life, aliud agere be doing other matters, if he do but know, that This must be done? Who can trifle or delay, that feeleth the spurs of hasty Necessity: As the souldier saith, Non diu disputandum, sed celeriter & fortiter dimicandum ubi urget Necessitas. So much more must we as our business is more important. And doubtless this is the best way to redeem time, and see that we lose not an hour, when we spend it only on Necessary things: And I think it is the way to be most profitable to others, though not always to be most pleasing and applauded;

4. Through the whole course of our Ministery, we must insist most upon the Greatest, most Certain and Necessary things, and be more seldom and sparing upon the rest. If we can but teach Christ to our people, we teach them all. Get them well to heaven, and they will have knowledge enough. The great and commonly acknowledged Truths are they that men must live upon, and which are the great instruments of raising the heart to God, and destroying mens sins. And therefore we must still have our peoples necessities in our eyes. It will take us off gawdes, and needless Ornaments, and unprofitable Controversies, to remember that One thing is Necessary. Other things are desirable to be known, but these must be known, or else our people are undone for ever. I confess I think Necessity should be a great disposer of a Ministers course of study and labours. If we were sufficient for every thing, we might fall upon every thing, and take in order the whole Encuclopaedia: But life is short: and we are dull: and eternal things are necessary: and the souls that depend on our teaching are precious: I