A26932:477
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.
3. And I give you this further answer: What had the Church of Christ done till the days of Constantine the great, if it had no better Pastors then you that will not Govern it without the joint compulsion of the Magistrate? Discipline, and severe Discipline was exercised for three hundred years together, where the Prince did not give them so much as a Protection, nor Toleration, but persecuted them to the death. Then was the Church at the best, and Discipline most pure and powerful; say not then any more for shame, that it is to no purpose without a Magistrate, when it hath done so much against ⟨p. 228⟩their wills? O what an aggravation is it of our sin! That you cannot be content to be negligent and unfaithful servants, but you must also fly in the face of your Lord and Master, and obliquely lay the blame on him! What do you else, when you blame Churchcen•ures as uneffectual, when you should blame your lazy self seeking hearts, that shift off the use of them? Hath Christ put a leaden sword into your hands, when he bids you smite the obstinate sinner? Or are you cowardly and careless, and then blame your sword instead of using it, as thinking that the easier task? Are the Keys of Christs Kingdom so unmeet and useless, that they will not open and shut without the help of the sword? or are you unskilful and lazy in the use of them! If they have contracted any rust, by which they are made less fit for service, next to the Prelates we may thank our selves, that let them lie so long unused.
3. And I give you this further answer: What had the Church of Christ done till the daies of Constantine the great, if it had no better Pastors then you that will not Govern it without the joynt compulsion of the Magistrate? Discipline, and severe Discipline was exercised for three hundred years together, where the Prince did not give them so much as a Protection, nor Toleration, but perfecuted them to the death. Then was the Church at the best, and Discipline most pure and powerful; say not then any more for shame, that it is to no purpose without a Magistrate, when it hath done so much against ⟨p. 228⟩their wills? O what an aggravation is it of our sin! That you cannot be content to be negligent and unfaithful servants, but you must also flie in the face of your Lord and Master, and obliquely lay the blame on him! What do you else, when you blame Churchcenures as uneffectual, when you should blame your lazy self seeking hearts, that shift off the use of them? Hath Christ put a leaden sword into your hands, when he bids you smite the obstinate sinner? Or are you cowardly and careless, and then blame your sword instead of using it, as thinking that the easier task? Are the Keyes of Christs Kingdom so unmeet and useless, that they will not open and shut without the help of the sword? or are you unskillful and lazy in the use of them! If they have contracted any rust, by which they are made less fit for service, next to the Prelates we may thank our selves, that let them lie so long unused.