A26932:746
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.
Obj. 5. But to what purpose is all this, when most of the people will not submit? They will but make a scorn at your motion, and tell us, they will not come to us to be Catechized, and that they are too old now to go to School; And therefore it is as good let them alone, as trouble our selves to no purpose.
Answ. I. Its not to be denied, but too many people are obstinate in their wickedness, and too many simple ones love simplicity, and too many scorners delight in scorning, and fools hate knowledge, Prov. I.22. But the worse they are, the sadder is their case, and the more to be pitied, and the more diligent should we be for their recovery. 2. I would it were not too much long of Ministers, that a great part of the people are so obstinate and contemptuous? If we did shine and burn before them as we should, had we convincing Sermons and convincing lives, did we set our selves to do all the good we could what ever it cost us: Were we more humble and meek, more loving and charitable, and let them see that we set light by all worldly things in comparison of their salvation; much more might be done then is, and the mouths of many would be stopped, and though still the wicked will do wickedly, yet more would be tractable, and the wicked would be fewer and calmer then they are. If you say, that the ablest and godliest Ministers in the world have had as untractable and scornful Parishioners as any others, I answer, that even ⟨p. 407⟩able godly men have some of them been too Lordly and strange, and some of them too uncharitable and worldly, and backward to costly, though necessary works, and some of them have done but little in private, when they have done excellently in public; and so have hindered the fruit of their labours. But where these impediments are absent, experience telleth us that the success is much greater, at least, as to the bowing of people to more calmness and teachableness: but we cannot expect that all should be brought to so much reason.
Answ. I. Its not to be denyed, but too many people are obstinate in their wickedness, and too many simple ones love simplicity, and too many scorners delight in scorning, and fools hate knowledge,