A26932:755
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.
CHAP. VII.
SECT. 1.
Directions for the right managing this Work.
IT is so happy a work which we have before us, that it is a thousand pities it should be destroyed in the birth, and perish in our hands. And though I know that we have a knotty generation to deal with, and that its past the power of any of us all to change a carnal heart without the effectual grace of the Holy-Ghost; yet it is so usual with God to work by means, and to bless the right endeavours of his servants, that I cannot fear, ⟨p. 414⟩but great things will be done, and a wonderful blow will be given to the Kingdom of Darkness by our undertaken work, if it do not miscarry through the fault of the Ministers themselves. And the main danger is in these two defects. 1. Of diligence. 2. Of skill. Against the former I have spoken much already. As for the later, I am so conscious of my own unskilfulness, that I am far from imagining that I am fit to give directions to any but the younger, and unexperienced of the Ministry; and therefore must expect so much Justice in your interpretation, as that you will suppose me now to speak to none but such. But yet something I shall say, and not pass over this part in silence, because the number of such is so great, and I am so apprehensive that the welfare of the Church and Nation, doth much depend on the management of this work.