A26932:480
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.
For there is no two men on earth but differ in something, if they know or believe any thing. And these men must square the world to their own judgements, which are not alway the wisest in the world: They that dare so rail at others as Blasphemers, when they know not what they say themselves, durst su•e smite them as Blasphemers, if they had power. This may possibly make the Magistrate think meet, (seeing we are so quarrelsome and impatient) to let us fight it out by the bare fists, and not to put ⟨p. 231⟩swords into our hands till we are more sober and know better how to use them: For if every passionate man, when he hath not wit enough to make good his cause, should presently borrow the Magistrates sword to make it good, truth would be upon great disadvantage in the world! Magistrates are commonly the most tempted and abused men, and therefore I know not why we should call so loud to have them become the Arbitrators in all our quarrels, lest error have two victories where truth gets one. I could wish the Magistrate did more; but if he do but give us Protection and Liberty (specially if he will but restrain Deceivers from preaching against the great unquestionable truths of the Gospel, and give public Countenance and Encouragement to those master-truths) I shall not fear by the Grace of God, but a prudent, sober unanimous Ministry will ere long shame the swarm of vanities that we think so threatening.
For there is no two men on earth but differ in something, if they know or believe any thing. And these men must square the world to their own judgements, which are not alway the wisest in the world: They that dare so rail at others as Blasphemers, when they know not what they say themselves, durst su•e smite them as Blasphemers, if they had power. This may possibly make the Magistrate think meet, (seeing we are so quarrelsom and impatient) to let us fight it out by the bare fists, and not to put ⟨p. 231⟩swords into our hands till we are more sober and know better how to use them: For if every passionate man, when he hath not wit enough to make good his cause, should presently borrow the Magistrates sword to make it good, truth would be upon great disadvantage in the world! Magistrates are commonly the most tempted and abused men, and therefore I know not why we should call so lowd to have them become the Arbitrators in all our quarrels, lest error have two victories where truth gets one. I could wish the Magistrate did more; but if he do but give us Protection and Liberty (specially if he will but restrain Deceivers from preaching against the great unquestionable truths of the Gospel, and give publike Countenance and Encouragement to those master-truths) I shall not fear by the Grace of God, but a prudent, sober unanimous Ministery will ere long shame the swarm of vanities that we think so threatning.