A26932:499
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.
I would put no man upon extremes; But in this case flesh and blood doth make even good men so partial, that they take their duties, and duties of very great worth and weight to be extremes. If worldly vanities did not blind us, we might see when a public or other greater good did call us to deny our selves and our families. Why should we not live nearlier and poorer in the world, rather then leave those works undone, which may be of greater use then our plentiful provision? But we consult in matter of duty with flesh and blood; and what counsel it will give us, we may easily know. It will tell us we must have a competency; and many pious mens competency, is but little below the Rich mans rates, Luke 16. If they be not clothed with the best, and fare not deliciously every day, they have not a competency. A man that preacheth an Immortal Crown of glory, must not seek much after transitory vanity: And he that preacheth the contempt of Riches, must himself contemn them, and show it by his life; And he that preacheth self-denial and mortification, must practise these in the eyes of them that he preacheth to, if ever he would have his Doctrine prosper. All Christians are sanctified, and therefore themselves and all that they have are consecrated and dedicated to their masters use; But Ministers are doubly sanctified; They are devoted to God both as Christians and as Ministers; and therefore they are doubly obliged to honour him with what they have.
I would put no man upon extreams; But in this case flesh and blood doth make even good men so partial, that they take their duties, and duties of very great worth and weight to be extreams. If worldly vanities did not blind us, we might see when a publike or other greater good did call us to deny our selves and our families. Why should we not live neerlyer and poorer in the world, rather then leave those works undone, which may be of greater use then our plentiful provision? But we consult in matter of duty with flesh and blood; and what counsel it will give us, we may easily know. It will tell us we must have a competency; and many pious mens competency, is but little below the Rich mans rates, Luke 16. If they be not cloathed with the best, and fare not deliciously every day, they have not a competency. A man that preacheth an Immortal Crown of glory, must not seek much after transitory vanity: And he that preacheth the contempt of Riches, must himself contemn them, and shew it by his life; And he that preacheth self-denyal and mortification, must practise these in the eyes of them that he preacheth to, if ever he would have his Doctrine prosper. All Christians are sanctified, and therefore themselves and all that they have are consecrated and dedicated to their masters use; But Ministers are doubly sanctified; They are devoted to God both as Christians and as Ministers; and therefore they are doubly obliged to honour him with what they have.