A26932:350
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.
10. All our work must be managed Reverently; as beseemeth them that believe the presence of God, and use not holy things as if they were common. The more of God appeareth in our duties, the more authority will they have with men: And Reverence is that affection of the soul, which proceedeth from deep apprehensions of God, and signifieth a mind that is much conversant with him. To manifest unreverence in the things of God, is so far to manifest hypocrisy; and that the heart agreeth not with the tongue. I know not what it doth by others; but the most Reverent Preacher, that speaks as if he saw the face of God, doth more affect my heart, though with common words, then an unreverent man with the most exquisite preparations. Yea, if he bawl it out with never so much seeming earnestness if Reverence be not answerable to fervency, it worketh but little. Of all Preaching in the world (that speaks not stark lies) I hate that Preaching which tendeth to make the hearers laugh, or to move their minds with tickling levity, and affect them as Stage-plays use to do, instead of affecting them with a holy Reverence of the name of God. Saith Hierom. (in Epistol. ad Nepotian. pag. mihi 14.) Decente in Ecclesia te, non clamor populi, sed gemitus suscitetur; Lachrymae auditorum laudes tuae sunt. We should as it were suppose we saw the Throne of God, and the millions of Glorious Angels attending him, that we might be awed with his Majesty, when we draw near him in his holy things, lest we profane them, and take his name in vain.
10. All our work must be managed Reverently; as beseemeth them that believe the presence of God, and use not holy things as if they were common. The more of God appeareth in our duties, the more authority will they have with men: And Reverence is that affection of the soul, which proceedeth from deep apprehensions of God, and signifyeth a mind that is much conversant with him. To manifest unreverence in the things of God, is so far to manifest hypocrisie; and that the heart agreeth not with the tongue. I know not what it doth by others; but the most Reverent Preacher, that speaks as if he saw the face of God, doth more affect my heart, though with common words, then an unreverent man with the most exquisite preparations. Yea, if he bawl it out with never so much seeming earnestness if Reverence be not answerable to fervency, it worketh but little. Of all Preaching in the world (that speaks not stark lyes) I hate that Preaching which tendeth to make the hearers laugh, or to move their minds with tickling levity, and affect them as Stage-playes use to do, instead of affecting them with a holy Reverence of the name of God. Saith Hierom. (in Epistol. ad Nepotian. pag. mihi 14.) Decente in Ecclesia te, non clamor populi, sed gemitus suscitetur; Lachrymae auditorum laudes tuae sunt. We should as it were suppose we saw the Throne of God, and the millions of Glorious Angels attending him, that we might be awed with his Majesty, when we draw neer him in his holy things, lest we profane them, and take his name in vain.