A26932:452
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. V.
2. IF Ministers were set upon the work of the Lord, it would be done more vigorously then by the most of us it is. How few Ministers do Preach with all their might? or speak about everlasting Joy or Torment in such a manner as may make men believe that they are in good sadness. It would make a mans heart ache to see a company of dead and drowsy sinners sit under a Minister, and not have a word that is like to quicken or awake them. To think with our selves, O if these sinners were but convinced ⟨p. 211⟩and awakened, they might yet be converted and live. And alas we speak so drowsily or gently, that sleepy sinners cannot hear: The blow falls so light, that hard-hearted persons cannot feel it. Most Minister will not so much as put out their voice, and stir up themselves to an earnest utterance: But if they do speak loud and earnestly, how few do answer it with earnestness of matter! and the voice doth little good; the people will take it but as mere bawling, when the matter doth not correspond. It would grieve one to hear what excellent Doctrines some Ministers have in hand, and let it die in their hands for want of close and lively application. What fit matter they have for convincing sinners: and how little they make of it; and what a deal of good it might do if it were set home; and yet they cannot or will not do it. O sirs, how plain, how close and earnestly should we deliver a message of such a nature as ours is? when the everlasting life or death of men is concerned in it: Me thinks we are nowhere so wanting as in this seriousness? There is nothing more unsuitable to such a business, then to be slight and dull. What! speak coldly for God! and for mens salvation! Can we believe that our people must be converted, or condemned and yet can we speak in a drowsy tone! In the name of God, Brethren, labour to awaken your hearts, before you come, and when you are in the work, that you may be fit to waken the hearts of sinners. Remember that they must be wakened or damned; and a sleepy Preacher will hardly wake them. If you give the holy things of God the highest praises in words, and yet do it coldly, you will seem in the manner to unsay ⟨p. 212⟩