Gildas Salvianus: The Reformed Pastor

and that while we hold the Looking glass of the Gospel to others, to show them the true face of the state of their souls, we should either look on the back side of it our selves, where we can see nothing, or turn it aside, that it may mis-represent us to our selves. If such a wretched man would take my counsel, he should make a stand, and call his heart and life to an account, and fall a preaching a while to himself, before he preach any more to others: He should consider whether food in the mouth will nourish that goeth not into the stomach? whether it be a Christ in the mouth or in the heart that will save men? Whether he that nameth him should not depart from iniquity? and whether God will hear their prayers, if they regard iniquity in their hearts? and whether it will serve the turn at the day of reckoning to say, Lord we have prophesied in thy name; when they shall hear, Depart from me, I know you not? and what comfort it will be to Judas when he is gone to his own place, to remember that he preached with the rest of the Apostles, or that he sate with Christ, and was called by him, Friend? and whether a wicked Preacher shall stand in the Judgement, or sinners in the Assembly of the just? When such thoughts as these have entered into their souls, and kindly worked a while upon their consciences, I would advise them next to go to the Congregation, and there preach over Origens Sermon, on Psal. 50. 16, 17. But to the wicked, saith God, What hast thou to do to declare my statutes, or that thou shouldst take my Covenant into ⟨p. 264⟩thy mouth, seeing thou hatest instruction, and hast cast my words behind thee? And when they have read this text, to sit down, and expound, and apply it by their tears. And then to make a free Confession of their sin, and lament their case before the assembly, and desire their earnest prayers to God for pardoning and renewing grace; and so to close with Christ in heart, who before admitted him no further then into the brain; that hereafter they may preach a Christ whom they know, and may feel what they speak, and may commend the riches of the Gospel by experience.

and that while we hold the Looking glass of the Gospel to others, to shew them the true face of the state of their souls, we should either look on the back side of it our selves, where we can see nothing, or turn it aside, that it may mis-represent us to our selves. If such a wretched man would take my counsel, he should make a stand, and call his heart and life to an account, and fall a preaching a while to himself, before he preach any more to others: He should consider whether food in the mouth will nourish that goeth not into the stomack? whether it be a Christ in the mouth or in the heart that will save men? Whether he that nameth him should not depart from iniquity? and whether God will hear their prayers, if they regard iniquity in their hearts? and whether it will serve the turn at the day of reckoning to say, Lord we have prophesied in thy name; when they shall hear, Depart from me, I know you not? and what comfort it will be to Iudas when he is gone to his own place, to remember that he preached with the rest of the Apostles, or that he sate with Christ, and was called by him, Friend? and whether a wicked Preacher shall stand in the Iudgement, or sinners in the Assembly of the just? When such thoughts as these have entred into their souls, and kindly workt a while upon their consciences, I would advise them next to go to the Congregation, and there preach over Origens Sermon, on