A26932:397
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.
The great sins that we are guilty of, I shall not undertake to enumerate; and therefore my passing over any particular is not to be taken as a denial of it for our Justification. But I shall take it to be my duty to give instance of some few, that cry loud for humiliation and speedy Reformation.
The great sins that we are guilty of, I shall not undertake to enumerate; and therefore my passing over any particular is not to be taken as a denyal of it for our Justification. But I shall take it to be my duty to give instance of some few, that cry loud for humiliation and speedy Reformation.
Only I must needs first premise this profession; That for all the faults that are now among us, I do not believe that ever England had so able and faithful a Ministry since it was a Nation as it hath at this day: and I fear that few Nations on earth, if any, have the like. Sure I am the change is so great within this 12. years, that it is one of the greatest joys that ever I had in the world to behold it. O how many Congregations are now plainly and frequently taught, that lived then in great obscurity? How many able faithful men are there now in a County in comparison of what were then? How graciously ⟨p. 166⟩hath God prospered the studies of many young men, that were little children in the beginning of the late troubles? so that now they cloud the most of their seniors: How many miles would I have gone twenty years ago, and less, to have heard one of those ancient Reverend Divines, whose Congregations are now grown thin, and their parts esteemed mean by reason of the notable improvement of their Juniors? And in particular, how mercifully hath the Lord dealt with this poor Country of Worcestershire, in raising up so many of these, that credit their sacred office, and self-denyingly, and freely, zealously and unweariedly do lay out themselves for the good of souls! I bless the Lord that hath placed me in such a neighbourhood, where I may have the brotherly fellowship of so many able, humble, unanimous, peaceable and faithful men. O that the Lord would long continue this admirable mercy to this unworthy Country: And I hope I shall rejoice in God while I have a being for the common change in other parts, that I have lived to see: That so many hundred faithful men are so hard at work for the saving of souls, frementibus licet & frendentibus inimicis; and that more are springing up apace. I know there are some men whose parts I reverence, who being in point of Government of another mind from them, will be offended at my very mention of this happy alteration: but I must profess if I were absolutely Prelatical, if I knew my heart, I could not chose for all that but rejoice: What not rejoice at the prosperity of the Church, because the men do differ in one opinion, about its order! should I shut my eyes against the mercies of the Lord!