Gildas Salvianus: The Reformed Pastor

10. Moreover, our practice will give the Governors of the Nation some better information about the nature and burden of the Ministry, and so may procure their further assistance. It is a lamentable impediment to the Reformation of the Church and the saving of souls, that in most populous Congregations, there is but one or two men to over-see many thousand souls, and so there are not labourers in any measure answerable to the work, but it becomes an impossible thing to them to do any considerable measure of that personal duty which should be done by faithful Pastors to all the Flocks. I have often said it, and still must say it, that this is a great part of Englands misery, and a great degree of spiritual famine which reigns in most Cities and great ⟨p. 328⟩Towns through the Land, even where they are insensible of it, and think themselves well provided; Alas we see multitudes of carnal, ignorant, sensual sinners round about us, here is a family, and there a family, and there almost a whole street or village of them; and our hearts pity them, and we see that their necessities cry loud for our speedy and diligent relief, so that he that hath ears to hear must needs hear it. And if we would never so fain, we cannot help them: Not only through their obstinacy, but also through our want of opportunity. We have experience, that if we could but have leisure to speak to them, and to open plainly to them their sin and danger, there were great hopes of doing good to many of them, that receive little by our public teaching. But we cannot come at them: more necessary work prohibits us: we cannot do both at once: and the public must be preferred, because there we deal with many at once. And it is as much as we are able to do, to perform the public work, or some little more; And if we do take the time when we should eat or sleep, (besides the ruining of weakened bodies by it) we shall not be able after all, to speak to one of very many of them. So that we must stand by and see poor people perish, and can but be sorry for them, and cannot so much as speak to them to endeavour their recovery. Is not this a sad case in a Nation that glorieth of the fullness of the Gospel? An Infidel will say, No: but me thinks no man that believes an everlasting Joy or Torment should say so. I will give you the instance of my own case.

10. MOreover, our practice will give the Governors of the Nation some better information about the nature and burden of the Ministery, and so may procure their further assistance. It is a lamentable impediment to the Reformation of the Church and the saving of souls, that in most populous Congregations, there is but one or two men to over-see many thousand souls, and so there are not labourers in any measure answerable to the work, but it becomes an impossible thing to them to do any considerable measure of that personal duty which should be done by faithful Pastors to all the Flocks. I have often said it, and still must say it, that this is a great part of Englands misery, and a great degree of spiritual famine which reigns in most Cities and great