A26932:615
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. THE second happy Benefit of our work if well managed, will be, The most orderly building up of those that are converted, and the stablishing them in the faith.
It hazardeth the whole work, or at least much hindereth it, when we do it not in the order that it must be done. How can you build if you first lay not a good foundation? or how can you set on the top-stone while the middle parts are neglected? Gratia non facit saltum, any more than nature. The second order of Christian Truths have such dependence upon the first, that they can never be well learned, till the first are learned. This makes so many deluded novices, that are pust up with the vain conceits of knowledge while they are grossly ignorant, and itch to be preaching before they well know what it is to be Christians; because they took not the work before them, but learnt some lesser matters which they heard most talk of, before they learnt the vital Principles. And this makes many labour so much in vain, and are still learning, but never come to the knowledge of the Truth, because they would learn to read before they learn to spell, or to know their letters; And this makes so many fall away, and shaken with every wind of temptation, because they were not well settled in the fundamentals. It is these Fundamentals that must lead men to further truths: It is these they must bottom and build all upon. It is these that they must live upon, and that must actuate all their graces, and animate all their duties; It is ⟨p. 316⟩these that must fortify them against particular temptations; and he that knows these well, doth know so much as will make him happy; and he that knows not these, knows nothing; and he that knows these best, is the best and most understanding Christian. The most godly people therefore in your Congregations will find it worth their labour to learn the very words of a Catechism. And if you would safely edify them and firmly stablish them, be diligent in this work.