A26932:448
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.
SECT. IV.
3. THE next sin which I shall mention, that we are lamentably guilty of, is this; We do not so seriously, unreservedly and industriously, lay out our selves in the work of the Lord, as beseemeth men of our profession and engagements. I bless the Lord that there are so many that do his work with all their might! But alas, for the most part, even of those that we take for Godly Ministers, how reservedly and how negligently do we go through our work? How few of us do so behave our selves in our office, as men that are wholly devoted thereto, and have devoted all that they have to the same ends? And because you shall see my grounds for this Confession, I shall mention to you some of the sinful discoveries of it, which do too much abound.
1. It is too common with us to be negligent in our studies; and few men will be at that pains that is necessary, for the right informing of their understandings, and fitting them for their further work. Some men have no delight in their studies, but take only now and then an hour, as an unwelcome task which they are forced to undergo, and are glad when they are from under the yoke. Will neither the natural desire of knowing, nor the spiritual desire of knowing God and things divine, nor the ⟨p. 209⟩consciousness of our great ignorance and weakness, nor the sense of the weight of our Ministerial work, will none of all these keep us closer to our studies, and make us more painful in seeking after the truth? This diligence is now the more necessary for Ministers, because the Necessity of the Church doth draw so many from the Universities so young, so that they are fain to Teach and Learn together: And for my part, I would not discourage such young ones, so be it they be but competently qualified, and quickened with earnest desires of mens salvation, and are drawn out by the present Necessities, sooner then they would go, if the Church could longer wait for their preparation; and will but study hard in the Country. For I know that as Theology is a practical Science, so the knowledge of it shineth best in a practical course: And laying out here is a means of gathering in; and a hearty endeavour to communicate and do good, is not the smallest help to our own proficiency. Many men have not been ashamed to confess how young and raw they were at their entrance, who yet have grown to eminent parts. Vigilius the Martyr was made Bishop of Trent at twenty years old. Ambrose de Offic. li. c. 1. saith thus, Homines discunt priusquam decent, & ab illo accipiunt quod aliis tradant: Quod ne ipsum quidem mihi accidit: Ego enim de tribunalibus atque administratienis infulis ad sacer dotium captus, docere vos coepi quod ipse non didici. Itaque factum est ut prius docere inciperem quam discere. Discendum igitur mihi simul & docendum est, quoniam non vacavit ante discere. Et quantumlibet quisque profecerit, nemo est qui doceri non egeat dum vivit.