Gildas Salvianus: The Reformed Pastor

That is the Reformation which best healeth the Ignorance, and Infidelity, and Pride, and Hypocrisy, and Worldliness, and other killing sins of the Land, and that most effectually bringeth men to faith and holiness. Not that I would have the least truth or duty undervalued, or any part of Gods will to be rejected: But the Kingdom of God consisteth not in every truth or duty; not in ceremonies, or circumstances, not in meats or drinks; but in Righteousness, and Peace, and Joy in the Holy-Ghost.

That is the Reformation which best healeth the Ignorance, and Infidelity, and Pride, and Hypocrisie, and Worldliness, and other killing sins of the Land, and that most effectually bringeth men to faith and holiness. Not that I would have the least truth or duty undervalued, or any part of Gods will to be rejected: But the Kingdom of God consisteth not in every truth or duty; not in ceremonies, or circumstances, not in meats or drinks; but in Righteousness, and Peace, and Joy in the Holy-Ghost.

Dear Brethren, it is you and such as you, that under Christ must yet give this Nation the fruit of all their prayers and pains, their cost and blood, and heavy sufferings. All that they have been doing, for the good of the Church, and for true Reformation for so may years, was but to prepare the way for you, to come in and do the work which they desired. Alas what would they do by fire and sword, by drums and trumpets, for the converting of souls! The actions of Armies and famous Commanders, which seem so glorious, and make so great a noise that the world ⟨p. 347⟩rings of them, what have they done, or what can they do that is worth the talking on without you? In themselves considered, all their victories and great achievements, are so far from being truly glorious, that they are very lamentable: and a Butcher may as well glory that he hath killed so many beasts, or a hangman that he hath executed so many men, as they can glory in the thing considered in it self. For war is the most heavy temporal judgement. And far less cause would they have to glory, if their cause and ends were wrong. And if their hearts, and ends, and cause be right, and they mean as honestly as any men in the world, yet are these great Commanders but your pioneers, to cut up the thorns that stand in your way, and to cast out the rubbish, and prepare you the way to build the house. Alas they cannot with all their victories, exalt the Lord Jesus in the soul of any sinner; and therefore they cannot set up his spiritual Kingdom; for the hearts of men are his house and throne: If the work should stop with the end of theirs, and go no further then they can carry it, we should be in the end but where we were in the beginning, and one generation of Christs enemies would succeed another, and they that take down the wicked, would inherit their vices, as they possess their rooms, and the last would be far the worst, as being deeper in the guilt, and more engaged in evil-doing. All this trouble then, and stir of the Nation, hath been to bring the work to your hands: and shall it dye there? God forbid! They have opened you the door, and at exceeding cost and sufferings have removed many of your impediments, and put the building instruments into your hands: and will you now stand still, or