A26932:458
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. VII.
4. THE negligent execution of acknowledged duties, doth show that we be not so wholly Devoted to the work as we should be. If there be any work of Reformation to be set a foot, how many are there that will go no further then they are drawn? And it were well if all would do but that much.
4. THE negligent execution of acknowledged duties, doth shew that we be not so wholly Devoted to the work as we should be. If there be any work of Reformation to be set a foot, how many are there that will go no further then they are drawn? And it were well if all would do but that much.
If any business for the Church be on foot, how many neglect it for their own private business? when we should meet and consult together for the unanimous and successful performance of our work, one hath this business of his own, and another that business, which must be preferred before Gods business.
And when a work is like to prove difficult and costly, how backward are we to it, and make excuses and will not come on? For instance; What hath been for more talked of, and prayed for, and contended about in England for many years past, then the business of Discipline? And there are but few men (the Erastians) but they seem zealous in disputing for one side or other: some for the Prelatical way, and some for the Presbyterian, and some for the Congregational. And yet when we come to the practice of it, for ought I see we are most of us for no way. It hath made me admire sometimes; to look on the face of England, and see how few Congregations in the Land have any considerable execution of Discipline, and to think withal what volumes they have written for it; and how almost all the Ministry