A26932:714
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.
19. All the Judgements upon the Nation, the cost, the labour, the blood, and the deliverances, and all the endeavours of the Governors for Reformation, will rise up against us if we now refuse to be faithful for a Reformation, when it is before us, and at our will.
I have said somewhat of this before. Hath God ⟨p. 380⟩been hewing us out a way with his sword, and levelling opposers by his terrible Judgements, and yet will we sit still or play the sluggards? Have England, Scotland and Ireland paid so dear for a Reformation, and now shall some men treacherously strangle it in the birth, and others expose it to contempt, and overrun it? and others sit still and look on it as a thing not worth the trouble: How many thousand persons may come to the condemnation of such men? The whole Countries may say, Lord we have been plundered, and ruined or much impover shed, we have paid taxes these many years, and it was a Reformation that was pretended, and that we were promised, in all; and now the Ministers that should be the instruments of it do neglect it: Many thousands may say, Lord we ventured our lives in obedience to a Parliament, that promised Reformation, and now we cannot have it. The souls of many, that have dyed in these wars may cry out against us, Lord it was the hopes of a Reformation that we fought and suffered for, in obedience to those Governors that professed to intend it; and now the Pastors reject it by their idleness. The Parliament may say, How long did we sit and consult about Reformation; and now the Ministers will not execute the power that is granted them? The Nation may say, How oft did we beg it of God, and Petition the Parliament for it, and now the Ministers deny us the enjoyment of it? Yea God himself may say, How many prayers have I heard! and what dangers have I delivered you from! how many! and how great! and in what a wonderful manner! And what do you think it was, that I delivered you for? Was it not that you should do my work! And will you betray it, or neglect it after all this? Truly Sirs, I ⟨p. 382⟩