A26932:595
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.
7. We do keep up separation, by permitting the worst to be uncensured in our Churches, so that many honest Christians think they are necessitated to withdraw. I must profess that I have spoke with some members of the separated (or gathered) Churches, that were moderate men, and have argued with them against their way; and they have assured me, That they were of the Presbyterian judgement, or bad nothing to say against it, but they joined themselves with other Churches upon mere necessity, thinking that Discipline being an Ordinance of Christ, must be used by all that can, and therefore they durst no longer live without it when they may have it; and they could find no Presbyterian Churches that executed Discipline, as they wrote for it; and they told me, that they did thus separate only pro tempore, till the Presbyterians will use Discipline, and then they would willingly return to them again. I confess I was sorry that such persons had any such occasion to withdraw, and the least ground for such a reason of their doings. It is not keeping them from the Sacrament that will excuse us from ⟨p. 306⟩the further exercise of Discipline, while they are Members of our Churches.
7. We do keep up separation, by permitting the worst to be uncensured in our Churches, so that many honest Christians think they are necessitated to withdraw. I must profess that I have spoke with some members of the separated (or gathered) Churches, that were moderate men, and have argued with them against their way; and they have assured me, That they were of the Presbyterian judgement, or bad nothing to say against it, but they joyned themselves with other Churches upon meer necessity, thinking that Discipline being an Ordinance of Christ, must be used by all that can, and therefore they durst no longer live without it when they may have it; and they could find no Presbyterian Churches that executed Discipline, as they wrote for it; and they told me, that they did thus separate only protempore, till the Presbyterians will use Discipline, and then they would willingly return to them again. I confess I was sorry that such persons had any such occasion to withdraw, and the least ground for such a reason of their doings. It is not keeping them from the Sacrament that will excuse us from ⟨p. 306⟩the further exercise of Discipline, while they are Members of our Churches.