A26932:444
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.
tantam postremo errandi libidinem, ut contenti non sint traditâ semel & acceptâ antiquitus credendi reguld, sed nova ac nova in diem quaerant, semperque aliquid gestiant religioni addere, mutare, detrabere: Quasi non coeleste dogma sit quod semel revelatum esse sufficiat, sed terrena institutio, quae aliter perfici nisi assidua emendations, immo potius reprehensione non possit. When we once return to the ancient simplicity of faith, then, and not till then, we shall return to the ancient love and peace.
tantam postremo errandi libidinem, ut contenti non sint traditâ semel & acceptâ antiquitus credendi reguld, sed nova ac nova in diem quaerant, semperque aliquid gestiant religioni addere, mutare, detrabere: Quasi non coeleste dogma sit quod semel revelatum esse sufficiat, sed terrena institutio, quae aliter perfici nisi assidua emendations, immo potius reprehensione non possit. When we once return to the antient simplicity of faith, then, and not till then, we shall return to the antient love and peace.
But the Pride of mens hearts doth make them so overvalue their own conceptions, that they expect all men else should be of their mind, and bow down to those reasons which others can see through, while they are as confident as if there were no room for doubting. Every Sect is usually confident in their own way, and as they value themselves, so they do their reasons. And hereupon arise such breaches in affections and communion as there are, while most men cry down the divisions of others, but maintain the like. Some will have no Communion with our Churches, because we have some Members that they take to be ungodly, and do not pull up the Tares in doubtful unproved cases, where we cannot do it without pulling up the Wheat. Others are so confident that Infants should be unbaptized, and out of the Church, that they will be of no Church that hath infant members, till these scandalous infants be (I say not excommunicated, for that supposeth a former right, but) taken as such that have no part or fellowship in the business, they will not join with such a ⟨p. 206⟩society; Christ telleth us, that except we become as little children, we shall not enter into his Kingdom; and they say, except little children be kept out of the Church, they will not enter or abide in it. Is not this extreme height of spirit, to be so confident, as to avoid Communion upon it, in a case where the Church hath been in all ages (or almost all by their own confession) so much against them? Would they not have separated from the whole Church on the same ground, if they had lived in these times? Others (as is before said) are so confident that we are no Ministers or Churches for want of Prelatical Ordination and Government, that they separate also, or deny Communion with us. And thus every party in the height of their self-conceitedness is ready to divide, & condemn all others that be not of their mind.