A26932:519
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.
SECT. II.
II. THE first Motive mentioned in the text, we have spoken of, which is from the Consideration of our office it self. The second is from the efficient cause. It is God by his spirit that makes us Overseers of his Church, therefore it concerneth us to Take heed to our selves and it. I did before show you how the Holy-Ghost is said to make Bishops or Pastors of the Church in three several respects. By Qualifying them for the office: By directing the Ordainers to discern their Qualifications, and know the fittest men: and by directing them, the people and themselves for the affixing them to a particular charge. All these were done then in an extraordinary sort, by inspiration, at least very oft. The same are all done now by the ordinary way of the spirits assistance. But it is the same spirit still: and men are made Over-seers of the Church (when they are rightly called) by the Holy-Ghost now as well as then. Its a strange conceit therefore of the Papists to think that Ordination by the hands of man, is of more absolute necessity to the Ministerial Office, then the calling of the Holy-Ghost. God hath determined in his word, that there shall be such an office, and what the Work and Power shall be, and what sort of men, as to their qualifications, shall receive it: None of these can be undone by man, or ⟨p. 257⟩made unnecessary. God also giveth men the Qualifications which he requireth. So that all that the Church hath to do, whether Pastors or People, Ordainers or Electors, is but to discern, and determine, which are the men that God hath thus Qualified, and to Accept of them that are so provided, and upon consent to install them solemnly in this office. But I purposely cut short the controvertible part.
II. THE first Motive mentioned in the text, we have spoken of, which is from the Consideration of our office it self. The second is from the efficient cause. It is God by his spirit that makes us Overseers of his Church, therefore it concerneth us to Take heed to our selves and it. I did before shew you how the Holy-Ghost is said to make Bishops or Pastors of the Church in three several respects. By Qualifying them for the office: By directing the Ordainers to discern their Qualifications, and know the fittest men: and by directing them, the people and themselves for the affixing them to a particular charge. All these were done then in an extraordinary sort, by inspiration, at least very oft. The same are all done now by the ordinary way of the spirits assistance. But it is the same spirit still: and men are made Over-seers of the Church (when they are rightly called) by the Holy-Ghost now as well as then. Its a strange conceit therefore of the Papists to think that Ordination by the hands of man, is of more absolute necessity to the Ministerial Office, then the calling of the Holy-Ghost. God hath determined in his word, that there shall be such an office, and what the Work and Power shall be, and what sort of men, as to their qualifications, shall receive it: None of these can be undone by man, or