A26932:366
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.
Nor Diotrephes the only man that loved to have the prehemine no, and made quarrels, and dealt unjustly and unmercifully in the Church upon that account.
Nor Diotrephes the only man that loved to have the prehemine noe, and made quarrels, and dealt unjustly and unmercifully in the Church upon that account.
And even while the Churches were frying in the flames, yet did the Pride and dissentions even of godly Pastors do more then the fire of persecution could do to turn all to ashes. How sad a story is it that Polycrates with all the Eastern Churches should be arrogantly excommunicated by Victor with his Romans, upon no higher a crime then mis-choosing of Easter day (which our Britons also long after were guilty of) who would think that so great weakness, and presumptuous usurpation, and uncharitable cruelty, and Schismatical zeal, could have befallen the Pastors of the Church in the strongest temptations of prosperity? much less in the midst of Heathenish persecutions! What toys and trifles did the ancient Reverend Fathers of the Church trouble their heads about, and pester the Church with, and what useless stuff are many of their Canons composed of? Yet these were the great matter and work of many of ⟨p. 144⟩their famous consultations. How quickly did they seem to forget the perfection of holy Scripture, the non-necessity and burdensomness of ceremonious impositions; And by taking upon them an unnecessary and unjust kind of Jurisdiction, they made the Church so much more work then ever Christ made it, and so clogged Religion with humane devices, that the Christian world hath groaned under it ever since, and been almost brought to ruin by it; and the Reverence of their persons hath put so much Reputation on the crime, and custom hath so taught it to plead prescription, that when the •acerated languid Churches will be delivered from the sad effects of their presumption, God only knoweth. It would make an impartial Reader wonder that peruseth their Canons and the History of the Church, that ever men of piety, and charity, and sobriety, could be drawn to perplex and tear in pieces the Churches by such a multitude of vanities, and needless determinations (o say no worse.) And that the Preachers of the Gospel of peace, which so enjoineth humility, unity and love, should ever be drawn to such a height of pide, as to think themselves meet to make so many Laws for the whole Church of Christ, and to bind all their Brethren through the world to the obedience of their dictates, and practice of their historical ensnaring Ceremonies; and that upon the penalties of being accounted no less then damned Heretics or Schismatics.