A26932:520
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. III.
III. THE third Motive in the Text, is, from the dignity of the Object. It is the Church of God which we must Oversee, and Feed. It is that Church which the world is much upheld for; which is sanctified by the Holy-Ghost; which is united to Christ, and is his mystical body: that Church which Angels are present with, and attend upon as Ministering Spirits; whose very little ones have their Angels beholding the face of God in heaven: O what a charge is it that we have-undertaken! And shall we be unfaithful to such a charge! Have we the Stewardship of Gods own family, and shall we neglect it! Have we the conduct of those Saints that must live for ever with God in glory, and shall we neglect them! God forbid! I beseech you Brethren, let this thought awaken the negligent! You that draw back from painful, displeasing, suffering duties, and will put off mens souls with uneffectual formalities; do you think this is an honourable usage of Christs Spouse? Are the souls of men thought meet by God to see his face, and live for ever in his glory, and are they not worthy of your utmost cost and labour? Do you think so basely of the Church of God, as if it deserved not the best of your care and help? Were you the Keepers of sheep or swine, you might better let them go, and say, they be not worthy the looking after; and yet you would scarce do so if they were your own. But dare ⟨p. 259⟩you say so by the souls of men even by the Church of God? Christ walketh among them: Remember his presence, and keep all as clean as you can. The praises of the most high God are in the midst of them. They are a sanctified peculiar people, a Kingly Priesthood, an holy Nation, a choice generation, to show forth the praises of him that hath called them, 1 Pet. 2. 9. and yet dare you neglect them? What a high honour is it to be but one of them, yea but a door keeper in the house of God! but to be the Priest of these Priests, and the Ruler of these Kings, this is such an honour as multiplieth your obligations to diligence and fidelity in so noble an employment.