A26932:548
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. IX.
5. Do well as well as say well: be zealous of good works. Spare not for any cost, if it may promote your masters work.
1. Maintain your innocency, and walk without offence. Let your lives condemn sin, and persuade men to duty. Would you have your people be more careful of their souls, then you will be of yours? If you would have them redeem their time, do not you misspend yours. If you would not have them vain in their conference, see that you speak your selves the things which may edify, and tend to minister grace to the hearers. Order your own families well if you would have them do so by theirs. Be not Proud and Lordly if you would have them to be lowly. There is no virtue wherein your example will do more, at least to abate mens prejudice, then humility, and meekness, and self-denial. Forgive injuries, and be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good: Do as our Lord, who when he was reviled, reviled not again; If sinners be stubborn, and stout, and contemptuous, flesh and blood will persuade ⟨p. 282⟩you to take up their weapons, and to master them by their carnal means; but that's not the way, (further then necessary self-preservation or public good requireth it) but overcome them with kindness, and patience, and gentleness. The former may show that you have more worldly power then they (wherein yet they are ordinarily too hard for the faithful); but its the later only that will tell them that you overtop them in spiritual excellency, and in the true qualifications of a Saint. If you believe that Christ was more imitable then Caesar or Alexander, and that its more glory to be a Christian then to be a Conqueror, yea to be a man then a beast, (who oft exceed us in strength) contend then with charity, and not with violence; and set Meekness, and Love, and Patience against force, and not force against force: Remember you are obliged to be the servants of all. Condescend to men of low estate; be not strange to the poor ones of your Flock. They are apt to take your strangeness for contempt: Familiarity improved to holy ends, is exceeding necessary, and may do abundance of good. Speak not stoutly or disrespectfully to any one: but be courteous to the meanest as your equal in Christ. A kind and winning carriage is a cheap way of advantage to do men good.