A26932:753
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.
2. I hope there is none so silly as to think this conference is not preaching. What doth the number we speak to make it preaching? Or doth interlocution make it none? Sure a man may as truly preach to one as to 1000. And (as is aforesaid) if you search, you'll find, that most of the Gospel preaching in those days, was by conference, or serious speeches to people occasionally, and frequently interlocutory: and that with one or two, fewer or more, as opportunity ⟨p. 409⟩served. Thus Christ himself did most commonly preach. Besides, we must take account of our peoples learning, if we mind the success of our work.
2. I hope there is none so silly as to think this conference is not preaching. What doth the number we speak to make it preaching? Or doth interlocution make it none? Sure a man may as truly preach to one as to 1000. And (as is aforesaid) if you search, you'l find, that most of the Gospel preaching in those daies, was by conference, or serious speeches to people occasionally, and frequently interlocutory: and that with one or two, fewer or more, as opportunity ⟨p. 409⟩served. Thus Christ himself did most commonly preach. Besides, we must take account of our peoples learning, if we mind the success of our work.
There is nothing therefore from God, from the spirit, from right reason, to cause us to make any question of our work, or to be unwilling to it. But from the world, from the flesh and the Devil, we shall have much, and more perhaps then we yet expect. But against temptations, if we have recourse to God, and look on his great Obligations on one side, and the hopeful Effects and Reward on the other, we shall see that we have little cause to draw back or to faint.