A26932:387
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.
Too like to these here described were our times grown, through the fault of those that professed themselves to have the oversight of their souls. A most sad thing it was to see those men that undertook to guide men in the ways of life, to be the chief means of discouraging them; and to hear them make a mock at holiness, that should have devoted their Doctrine and […] thereto. The accusation may seem harsh to those of after-times that knew not this! or that by the Patrons of iniquity are persuaded of the ⟨p. 161⟩contrary. But I say as Salvian, l. 6. p. 197. Sed gravis est forsitan haec atque iniqua congestio. Gravis profecto, si falsa.
Too like to these here described were our times grown, through the fault of those that professed themselves to have the oversight of their souls. A most sad thing it was to see those men that undertook to guide men in the waies of life, to be the chief means of discouraging them; and to hear them make a mock at holiness, that should have devoted their Doctrine and 〈…〉 thereto. The accusation may seem harsh to those of after-times that knew not this! or that by the Patrons of iniquity are perswaded of the ⟨p. 161⟩contrary. But I say as Salvian, l. 6. p. 197. Sed gravis est forsitan haec atque iniqua congestio. Gravis profecto, si falsa.
Yet through the mercy of God, it was not all the Prelates of the Church that thus miscarried: we have yet surviving our Usher, our Hall, our Morton, learned, godly and peaceable men; whose names are as dear to us as any mens alive. And O that it had been the will of God that all had been such! Then had we not been like to have seen those days of blood that we have seen: nor those great mutations in Church and state! But so far were these good men from being able to do the good that they would, that they were maligned for their piety, and soundness in the faith, and many a time have I heard them despised as well as others, and scorned as Puritans for all they were Prelates.