A26932:408
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.
A fearful thing, That any man that hath the least of the fear of God, should so envy at Gods gifts, and had rather that his carnal hearers were unconverted, and ⟨p. 172⟩the drowsy not awakened, then that it should be done by another who may be preferred before them. Yea so far doth this cursed vice prevail, that in great Congregations that have need of the help of many Teachers, we can scarce in many places get two in equality to live together in love and quietness, and unanimously to carry on the work of God! But unless one of them be quite below the other in parts, and content to be so esteemed, or unless one be a Curate to the other or ruled by him, they are contending for precedency, and envying each others interest and walking with strangeness and jealousy towards one another, to the shame of their profession, and the great wrong of the Congregation. I am ashamed to think of it, that when I have been endeavouring with persons of public interest and capacity to further a good work, to convince them of the great necessity of more Ministers then one in great Congregations, they tell me, they will never agree together! I hope the objection is ungrounded as to the most: but it is a sad case that it should be so with any. Nay some men are so far gone in Pride, that when they might have an equal assistant to further the work of God, they had rather take all the burden upon themselves, though more then they can bear, then that any should share with them in the honour; and for fear least they should diminish their interest in the people.
A fearful thing, That any man that hath the least of the fear of God, should so envy at Gods gifts, and had rather that his carnal hearers were unconverted, and ⟨p. 172⟩the drowsie not awakened, then that it should be done by another who may be preferred before them. Yea so far doth this cursed vice prevail, that in great Congregations that have need of the help of many Teachers, we can scarce in many places get two in equality to live together in love and quietness, and unanimously to carry on the work of God! But unless one of them be quite below the other in parts, and content to be so esteemed, or unless one be a Curate to the other or ruled by him, they are contending for precedency, and envying each others interest and walking with strangness and jealousie towards one another, to the shame of their profession, and the great wrong of the Congregation. I am ashamed to think of it, that when I have been endeavouring with persons of publike interest and capacity to further a good work, to convince them of the great necessity of more Ministers then one in great Congregations, they tell me, they will never agree together! I hope the objection is ungrounded as to the most: but it is a sad case that it should be so with any. Nay some men are so far gone in Pride, that when they might have an equal assistant to further the work of God, they had rather take all the burden upon themselves, though more then they can bear, then that any should share with them in the honour; and for fear least they should diminish their interest in the people.