A26932:606
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.
I. AND first; It will be the most hopeful advantage for the conversion of many souls, that we can expect. For it hath a concurrence of those great things which must further such a work.
1. For the matter of it, it is about the most needful things: the Principles or Essentials of the Christian faith.
2. For the manner of exercise, It will be by private conference, where we may have opportunity to set all home to the heart.
3. The common concord of Ministers will do much to bow their hearts to a consent. Were it but a meeting to resolve some controverted questions it would not have so direct a tendency to conversion Were it but occasional, we could not handsomely fall on them so closely: but when we make it the appointed business, it will be expected, and not so strangely taken. And if most Ministers had singly set upon this work, perhaps but few of the people would have submitted, and then you might have lost your chiefest opportunities, and those that had most needed your help, would have had least of it. Whereas now we may hope that when it is a general thing, few will refuse it; and when they see that other neighbours do it, they will be ashamed to be so singular or openly ungodly as to deny.