A26932:438
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.
And what a case would the Churches of England be in, if we should yield to the motions of these Reverend men! supposing that mens judgements are not at their own wills, and therefore many cannot see the reasons for Prelacy; must we all give up our charges as no true Ministers, and desert the Congregations as no true Churches? Why, whom will they then set over them in our stead? First, it is known that they cannot, if they had fit men, procure them what liberty their way requires, because of the discountenance of authority; and it is known that they have not fit men for one Congregation of very many. And had they rather that the doors were shut up, and God had no public worship, nor the people any public teaching or Sacraments, then any but they should have a hand in the performance of it? Or if the Ministers keep their places, can they wish all the Congregations to stay at home, and live like Heathens? Nay, are they not angry with us for ⟨p. 201⟩casting out a grossly ignorant, insufficient, scandalous sort of Ministers, who were the great means of the perdition of the people, whose souls they had taken charge of? As for the casting out of any able godly men upon mere differences about the late troubles and State affairs; I speak not of it, I approve not of it; If any such thing were done, let them maintain it if they can that did it; for I neither can nor will. But its a very sad case, that any men of judgement & piety should not only be indifferent in matters of such moment, but should think it a persecution and an injury to their party and cause, to have hundreds of unworthy wretches to be ejected, when it was a work of so great necessity to the Church.
And what a case would the Churches of England be in, if we should yield to the motions of these Reverend men! supposing that mens judgements are not at their own wills, and therefore many cannot see the reasons for Prelacy; must we all give up our charges as no true Ministers, and desert the Congregations as no true Churches? Why, whom will they then set over them in our stead? First, it is known that they cannot, if they had fit men, procure them what liberty their way requires, because of the discountenance of authority; and it is known that they have not fit men for one Congregation of very many. And had they rather that the doors were shut up, and God had no publike worship, nor the people any publike teaching or Sacraments, then any but they should have a hand in the performance of it? Or if the Ministers keep their places, can they wish all the Congregations to stay at home, and live like Heathens? Nay, are they not angry with us for