A26932:604
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.
1. THE first reasons by which I shall persuade you to this duty are taken from the benefits of it. The second sort are taken from the difficulty. And the third from the Necessity, and the many obligations that are upon us for the performance of it. And to these three heads I shall reduce them all.
1. THE first reasons by which I shall perswade you to this duty are taken from the benefits of it. The second sort are taken from the difficulty. And the third from the Necessity, and the many obligations that are upon us for the performance of it. And to these three heads I shall reduce them all.
1. And for the first of these; when I look before me, and consider what through the blessing of God, this work well managed is like to produce, it makes my heart to leap for joy. Truly Brethren, you have begun a most blessed work: and such as your own consciences may rejoice in, and your Parishes rejoice in, and the Nation rejoice in, and the child that is yet unborn; yea thousands and millions for ought we know may have cause to bless God for, ⟨p. 309⟩when we have finished our course. And though it be our business here to humble our selves for the neglect of it so long, as we have very great cause to do, yet the hopes of a blessed success are so great in me, that they are ready to turn it into a day of Rejoicing I bless the Lord that I have lived to see such a day as this, and to be present at so solemn an engagement of so many servants of Christ to such a work. I bless the Lord, that hath honoured you of this County to be the beginners and awakeners of the Nation hereunto. Is it not a controverted business, where the exasperated minds of divided men might pick quarrels with us, or malice it self be able to invent a rational reproach: Nor is it a new invention, where envy might charge, you as innovators, or proud boasters of any new discoveries of your own; or scorn to follow in it, because you have led the way. No; it is a well known duty: It is but the more diligent and effectual management of the Ministerial work, and the teaching of our Principles, and the feeding of babes with milk. You lead indeed, but not in invention of novelty, but the restoration of the ancient Ministerial work, and the self-denying attempt of a duty that few, or none can contradict. Unless men do envy you, your labours and sufferings, or unless they envy the saving of mens souls, I know not what they can envy you for, in this. The age is so quarrelsome, that where there is any matter to fasten on, we can scarce explain a truth or perform a duty, but one or other, if not many, will have a stone to cast at us, and will speak evil of the things which they do not understand, or which their hearts and interests are against.