Gildas Salvianus: The Reformed Pastor

If any one seek revenge against you for the sake of Discipline, you have not only Laws, but as many willing Magistrates ⟨p. 224⟩to restrain and punish them as ever you knew I think in England. And what would you have more? Would you have a Law made to Punish you if you will not do your duty? What! dare you tell God that you will not do his work unless the Magistrate drive you to it with scourges? I confess if I had my will it should be so; and that man should be ejected as a negligent Pastor, that will not rule his People by Discipline (though yet I might allow him to be a Preacher to the unchurched) as well as he is ejected as a negligent Preacher that will not preach. For Ruling is as Essential a part of a Pastors office as preaching I am sure. And therefore seeing these men would fain have the Magistrate interpose, if he did eject them for unfaithful negligent Pastors (were it not for the necessity of the Church that hath not enow better) I know not well how they could blame him for it. Its a sad discovery of our carnal hearts, when man can do so much more with us then God, that we would obey the commands of men, and will not obey the commands of Christ. Is he fit to be Christs Officer, that will not take his Command as obligatory?

But I know the thing expected is, that all the people should be forced under a penalty to submit to our Discipline. I confess, I think that the Magistrate should be the hedge of the Church and defend the Ministry, and improve his power to the utmost to procure an universal obedience to Christs Laws, and restrain men from the apparent breach of them, especially from being false Teachers and Seducers of others. How far I am against the two extremes of Universal Licence, and Persecuting tyranny, I have ⟨p. 225⟩frequently manifested on other occasions. But I shall now say but this. 1. Doth not this further discover the carnal frame of our hearts, when we will not do our duty unless the Magistrate will do his to the full, and all that we conceive may be his duty? What! will his neglect excuse yours? Hath Christ bid you use the Keys of the Kingdom, and avoid a scandalous sinner upon condition that the Magistrate will punish him with the sword? Is not this your meaning if you would speak it out, that you find a great deal of difficulty in your work, and you would have the Magistrate by terrifying offenders make it easy to you? for if it be not safe and cheap and easy, you are resolved you will not do it; And such servants Christ may have enough. Nay is not your meaning, that you would have the Magistrate to do your work for you? Just as your pious people have long cried and prayed for Discipline, and called upon Ministers to do it, but we cannot get them to reprove offenders and deal with them seriously and lovingly for their good and inform the Church-Officers of them that are obstinate. So do we toward the Magistrates: The work of God is so much beholden to us, that we would all have it done, but few wll do it. We can easilyer censure and talk against others for not doing it, then do it our selves. O the guile and hypocrisy of our hearts!