A26932:412
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.
Brethren, I know this is a sad and harsh confession! but that all this should be so among us, should be more grievous to us then to be told of it. Could this nakedness be hid, I should not have disclosed it, at least so openly in the view of all. But alas it is long ago open in the eyes of the world: We have dishonoured our selves by idolizing our honour; We print our shame, and preach our shame, and tell it unto all. Some will think that I speak over charitably to call such persons Godly men, in whom so great a sin doth so much prevail. I know where it is indeed predominant, not hated, and bewailed, and mortified in the main, there can be no true godliness; and I leave every man to a cautelous jealousy and search of his own heart; But if all be Graceless that are guilty of any, or most of the forementioned discoveries of Pride, the Lord be merciful to the Ministers of this Land, and give us quickly another spirit; for grace is then a rarer thing then most of us have supposed it to be.
Brethren, I know this is a sad and harsh confession! but that all this should be so among us, should be more grievous to us then to be told of it. Could this nakedness be hid, I should not have disclosed it, at least so openly in the view of all. But alas it is long ago open in the eyes of the world: We have dishonoured our selves by idolizing our honour; We print our shame, and preach our shame, and tell it unto all. Some will think that I speak over charitably to call such persons Godly men, in whom so great a sin doth so much preval. I know where it is indeed predominant, not hated, and bewailed, and mortified in the main, there can be no true godliness; and I leave every man to a cautelous jealousie and search of his own heart; But if all be Graceless that are guilty of any, or most of the forementioned discoveries of Pride, the Lord be merciful to the Ministers of this Land, and give us quickly another spirit; for grace is then a rarer thing then most of us have supposed it to be.
Yet I must needs say that it is not all that I intend; To the praise of Grace be it spoken, we have some among us here, (and I doubt not but it is so in other parts) that are eminent in humility and lowliness and condescension, and exemplary herein to their flocks and to their Brethren: and it is their glory and shall be their glory; and maketh them truly honourable and amiable in the eyes of God and all good men; yea and in the eyes of the ungodly themselves: And O that the rest of us were but such! But alas this is not the case of all.