A26932:620
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.
6. AND then this trial of, and acquaintance with our peoples state, will better satisfy us in the administration of the Sacraments. We may the better understand how far they are fit or unfit. Though this give them not the state or relation of a Member of that Church whereof we are Over-seers; yet because the Members of the Church Universal, though they are of no particular Church, may in some cases have a right to the Ordinances of Christ in those particular Churches where they come, and in some cases they have no right, we may by this means be the better informed how to deal with them, though they be no members of that particular Church. And whereas many will question a Minister that examineth his people in order to the Lords Supper, by ⟨p. 319⟩what authority he doth it, the same work will be done this way, in a course beyond exception. Though I doubt not but a Minister may require his Flock to come to him at any convenient season, to give an account of their faith and proficiency, and to receive instruction, and therefore he may do it in preparation to the Sacrament; yet because Ministers have laid the stress of that examination upon the mere necessity of fitness for that Ordinance, and not upon their common duty to see the state and proficiency of each member of their Flock at all fit seasons, and upon the peoples duty to submit to the guidance and instruction of the Pastors at all times, they have therefore occasioned people ignorantly to quarrel against their examinations, and call for the proof. Whereas it is an easy thing to prove that any Scholar in Christs School is bound at any time to be accountable to his Teachers, and to obey them in all lawful things in order to their own edification and salvation; though it may be more difficult to prove a necessity that a Minister must so examine them in order to the Lords Supper, any more then in order to a day of Thanksgiving or a Lords day, or the Baptizing of their children.
6. AND then this tryal of, and acquaintance with our peoples state, will better satisfie us in the administration of the Sacraments. We may the better understand how far they are fit or unfit. Though this give them not the state or relation of a Member of that Church whereof we are Over-seers; yet because the Members of the Church Universal, though they are of no particular Church, may in some cases have a right to the Ordinances of Christ in those particular Churches where they come, and in some cases they have no right, we may by this means be the better informed how to deal with them, though they be no members of that particular Church. And whereas many will question a Minister that examineth his people in order to the Lords Supper, by