A26932:467
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.
These are the great Reasons for the non execution of Discipline, together with the great labour that private admonition of each offender would cost us. And to these I answer.
1. Are not these reasons as valid against Christianity it self in some times and places, as now against Discipline? Christ came not to send us peace; we shall have his Peace, but not the worlds; for he hath foretold us that they will hate us. Might not Mr. Bradford, or Hooper, or any that were burnt in Queen Mary's days have alleged more then this against duty? They might have said, It will make us hated, if we own the Reformation, and it will expose our lives to the flames. How is he concluded by Christ to be no Christian, who hateth not all that he hath and his own life for him! and yet we can take the hazard of our life as a reason against his work; What is it but hypocrisy to shrink from sufferings, and take up none but safe and easy works, and make our selves believe that the rest are no duties? Indeed ⟨p. 220⟩this is the common way of escaping suffering, to neglect the duty that would expose us thereunto. If we did our duty faithfully, Ministers should find the same lot among professed Christians, as their predecessors have done among the Infidels. But if you could not suffer for Christ, why did you put your hand to his plough? and did not first set down and count your costs? This makes the Ministerial work so unfaithfully done, because it is so carnally undertaken; and men enter upon it as a life of ease, and honour, and respect from men and therefore resolve to attain their ends, and have what they expected by right or wrong. They looked not for hatred and suffering, and they will avoid it, though by the avoiding of their work.
1. Are not these reasons as valid against Christianity it self in some times and places, as now against Discipline? Christ came not to send us peace; we shall have his Peace, but not the worlds; for he hath foretold us that they will hate us. Might not Mr. Bradford, or Hooper, or any that were burnt in Queen Maries daies have alledged more then this against duty? They might have said, It will make us hated, if we own the Reformation, and it will expose our lives to the flames. How is he concluded by Christ to be no Christian, who hateth not all that he hath and his own life for him! and yet we can take the hazard of our life as a reason against his work; What is it but hypocrisie to shrink from sufferings, and take up none but safe and easie works, and make our selves believe that the rest are no duties? Indeed