A26932:493
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.
If the Rulers of an University should but be corrupt, who have the disposal of preferments, how much might they do with the most of the students, where ⟨p. 236⟩mere Arguments would not take? And the same tractable distemper doth so often follow them into the Ministry, that it occasioneth the enemies to say, that Reputation and preferment is our Religion, and our Reward.
If the Rulers of an University should but be corrupt, who have the disposal of preferments, how much might they do with the most of the students, where ⟨p. 236⟩meer Arguments would not take? And the same tractable distemper doth so often follow them into the Ministery, that it occasioneth the enemies to say, that Reputation and preferment is our Religion, and our Reward.
2. And for the second, How common is it with Ministers to drown themselves in worldly business? Too many are such as the Sectaries would have them be, who tell us that we should go to plough and cart, and labour for our living, and preach without so much study: And this is a lesson easily learnt. Men take no care to cast off and prevent care, that their souls and the Church may have their care.
And especially how commonly are those duties neglected, that are like if performed to diminish our estates? For example: Is there not many that dare not, that will not set up the exercise of any Discipline in their Churches (not only on the forementioned accounts but especially) because it may hinder the people from paying them their dues? They will not offend sinners with Discipline, least they offend them in their estates, (yea though the Law secure their maintenance.) I find money is too strong an Argument for some men to answer, that can proclaim the love of it to be the root of all evil, and can make large orations of the danger of covetousness. I will say no more now to these but this; If it was so deadly a sin in Simon Magus to offer to buy the Gift of God with money; what is it to sell his gifts, his cause, and the souls of men for money? and what reason have such to fear least their money perish with them?