A26932:466
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 are the hindrances now that keep the Ministers of England from the Execution of that Discipline which they have so much contended for? I hear not all speak: but I hear some, and see more. The great Reason as far as I can learn, is, The difficulty of the Work, and the trouble or suffering that we are like to incur by it: We cannot publicly reprehend one sinner, but he will storm at it, and bear us a deadly malice. We can prevail with very few to make a public ⟨p. 219⟩profession of true Repentance. If we proceed to excommunicate them, they will be raging mad against us: They will be ready to vow revenge against us, and to do us a mischief: If we should deal as God requireth with all the obstinate sinners in the Parish, there were no living among them; they would conspire in hatred against us to the hazard of our lives. We should be so hated of all, that as our lives would be uncomfortable, so our labours would become unprofitable; for men would not hear us when they are possessed with a hatred of us; therefore duty ceaseth to be duty to us, because the hurt that would follow would be greater then the good; and affirmatives bind not ad semper.
And what are the hindrances now that keep the Ministers of England from the Execution of that Discipline which they have so much contended for? I hear not all speak: but I hear some, and see more. The great Reason as far as I can learn, is, The difficulty of the Work, and the trouble or suffering that we are like to incurr by it: We cannot publikely reprehend one sinner, but he will storm at it, and bear us a deadly malice. We can prevail with very few to make a publike ⟨p. 219⟩profession of true Repentance. If we proceed to excommunicate them, they will be raging mad against us: They will be ready to vow revenge against us, and to do us a mischief: If we should deal as God requireth with all the obstinate sinners in the Parish, there were no living among them; they would conspire in hatred against us to the hazard of our lives. We should be so hated of all, that as our lives would be uncomfortable, so our labours would become unprofitable; for men would not hear us when they are possessed with a hatred of us; therefore duty ceaseth to be duty to us, because the hurt that would follow would be greater then the good; and affirmatives bind not ad semper.