A26932:590
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.
2. You gratify the present designs of dividers, whose business is to unchurch us and unchristen us: to prove our Parishes no true Churches (and our selves no baptized Christians.) For if you take them for people uncapable of Discipline, they must be uncapable of the Sacrament of the Lords Supper and other Church-Communion; and then they are no Church. And so you will plainly seem to preach merely as they do, to gather Churches where there were none before. And indeed if that be your case that your people are not Christians, and you have no particular Churches, and so are no Pastors, tell us so and manifest it, and we shall not blame you.
2. You gratifie the present designs of dividers, whose business is to unchurch us and unchristen us: to prove our Parishes no true Churches (and our selves no baptized Christians.) For if you take them for people uncapable of Discipline, they must be uncapable of the Sacrament of the Lords Supper and other Church-Communion; and then they are no Church. And so you will plainly seem to preach meerly as they do, to gather Churches where there were none before. And indeed if that be your case that your people are not Christians, and you have no particular Churches, and so are no Pastors, tell us so and manifest it, and we shall not blame you.
3. We do manifest plain laziness and sloth, if not unfaithfulness in the work of Christ. I speak from experience; It was laziness that kept me off so long, and pleaded hard against this duty. It is indeed a troublesome and painful work, and such as calls for some self-denial, because it will cast us upon the displeasure of the wicked. But dare we prefer our carnal ease, and quietness, and the love or peace of wicked men, before our service to Christ our Master? Can slothful servants look for a good reward? Remember Brethren, that we of this County have thus Promised before God in the second Article of our Agreement, We agree and resolve by Gods help, ⟨p. 304⟩that so far as God doth make known our duty to us, we will faithfully endeavour to discharge it, and will not, desist through any fears or losses in our estates, or the frowns and displeasure of men, or any the like carnal inducements whatsoever. I pray you study this promise, and compare your performance with it. And do not think that you were ensnared by thus engaging; for Gods Law hath laid an obligation on you to all the same duty, before your engagement did it. Here is nothing but what others are bound to, as well as you.