A26932:716
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.
But the Lord grant that it be not we, if we prove negligent in our Ministry, and betray the Reformation that God hath called us to, that shall have all this blood and misery charged on us, yea though we had never any other hand therein: And that the Lord say not of us, as of John, even when he had destroyed the house of Ahab by his command, because he accomplished not the Reformation which that execution tended to, Yet a little while, and I will avenge the blood of Jezreel on the house of Jehu, Hof. 1. 4. O Sirs, can we find in our hearts to lose all the cost and trouble of the three Nations, and all to save us a little trouble in the Issue, and so to bring the guilt of all upon our selves. Far be it from us if we have the hearts of Christians.
But the Lord grant that it be not we, if we prove negligent in our Ministry, and betray the Reformation that God hath called us to, that shall have all this blood and misery charged on us, yea though we had never any other hand therein: And that the Lord say not of us, as of John, even when he had destroyed the house of Ahab by his command, because he accomplished not the Reformation which that execution tended to, Yet a little while, and I will avenge the blood of Iezrael on the house of Jehn, Hof. 1. 4. O Sirs, can we find in our hearts to lose all the cost and trouble of the three Nations, and all to save us a little trouble in the Issue, and so to bring the guilt of all upon our selves. Far be it from us if we have the hearts of Christians.
20. Lastly, if we should yet refuse a Reformation, in our Instructing of the Ignorant or our exercise of Christs Discipline, how many Vows and Promises of our own may rise up in Judgement against us and condemn us• 1. In the National Covenant those that entered into it did vow and Promise most solemnly before the Lord and his people, that ⟨p. 383⟩Having before our eyes the Glory of God, and the advancement of the Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ—we would sincerely, really and constantly endeavour in our several places and callings the Reformation of Religion n Doctrine, Worship, Discipline and Government—and we did profess our true and unfeigned purpose, desire and endeavour for our selves and all others under our power and charge, both in public and private, in all duties we owe to God and man, to amend our lives, and each one to go before another in the Example of a Real Reformation. And this Covenant we made as in the presence of God the searcher of all hearts with a true intention to perform the same as we shall answer at the great day when the secrets of all hearts shall be disclosed. O dreadful case then that we have put our selves into, if infinite mercy help us not out! May we not say after the reading of this as Josiah after the reading o the Law, a Kings 22. 13.