Gildas Salvianus: The Reformed Pastor

And that you may see that it is not a causeless sorrow that God calleth us to. I shall take it to be my duty to call to remembrance our manifold sins, or those that are most obvious, and set them this day in order before God and our own faces, that God may cast them behind his back: and to deal plainly and faithfully in a free confession; that he who is faithful and just may forgive them; and to judge our selves that we be not judged of the Lord. Wherein I suppose I have your free and hearty consent, and that you will be so far from being offended with the disgrace of your persons and of others in this office, that you will readily subscribe the charge, and be humble self-accusers; and so far am I from justifying my self by the accusation of others, that I do unfeignedly put my name with the first in the bill. For how can a wretched sinner of so great transgressions, presume to justify himself with God? Or how can he plead Guiltless, whose conscience hath so much to say against him? If I cast shame upon the Ministry, it is not on the office, but on our persons, by opening that sin which is our shame: The glory of our high employment doth not communicate any glory to our sin; nor will afford it the smallest covering for its nakedness. For sin is a reproach to any people, or persons, Prov. 14. 34. And it is my self as well as others ⟨p. 141⟩on whom I must lay the shame. And if this may not be done, What do we here to day? Our business is to take shame to our selves, and to give God the glory, and faithfully to open our sins that he may cover them, and to make our selves bare by confession, as we have done by transgression, that we may have the white raiment which clotheth none but the penitent; For be they Pastors or people, it is only he that confesseth and forsaketh his sins, that shall have mercy, when he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief, Pro. 28. 13.

And that you may see that it is not a causeless sorrow that God calleth us to. I shall take it to be my duty to call to remembrance our mainfold sins, or those that are most obvious, and set them this day in order before God and our own faces, that God may cast them behind his back: and to deal plainly and faithfully in a free confession; that he who is faithful and just may forgive them; and to judge our selves that we be not judged of the Lord. Wherein I suppose I have your free and hearty consent, and that you will be so far from being offended with the disgrace of your persons and of others in this office, that you will readily subscribe the charge, and be humble self-accusers; and so far am I from justifying my self by the accusation of others, that I do unfeignedly put my name with the first in the bill. For how can a wretched sinner of so great transgressions, presume to justifie himself with God? Or how can he plead Guiltless, whose conscience hath so much to say against him? If I cast shame upon the Ministery, it is not on the office, but on our persons, by opening that sin which is our shame: The glory of our high imployment doth not communicate any glory to our sin; nor will afford it the smallest covering for its nakedness. For sin is a reproach to any people, or persons,