A26932:780
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.
3. When this is done, it will be very necessary that according to our Agreement, we give one of the Catechisms to every family in the Parish, poor and rich, that so they might be so far without excuse: For if you leave it to themselves, perhaps half of them will not so much as get them: Whereas, when they have them put into their hands, the receiving is a kind of engagement to learn them: and if they do but read the exhortation (as its likely they will do) it will perhaps convince them, and incite them to submit. And for the delivery of them, the best way is, for the Minister first to give notice in the Congregation, that they shall be brought to their houses, and then to go himself from house to house and deliver them, and take the opportunity of persuading them to the work; and as they go, to take a Catalogue of all the persons at years of discretion in the several families, that they may know whom they have to take care of, and instruct, and whom to expect when it cometh to their turns. I have formerly in the distributing of some other Books among them, desired every family to fetch them; but I found more confusion and uncertainty in that way, and now took this as the better. But in small Parishes, either way may serve.
3. VVHen this is done, it will be very necessary that according to our Agreement, we give one of the Catechisms to every family in the Parish, poor and rich, that so they might be so far without excuse: For if you leave it to themselves, perhaps half of them will not so much as get them: Whereas, when they have them put into their hands, the receiving is a kind of engagement to learn them: and if they do but read the exhortation (as its likely they will do) it will perhaps convince them, and incite them to submit. And for the delivery of them, the best way is, for the Minister first to give notice in the Congregation, that they shall be brought to their houses, and then to go himself from house to house and deliver them, and take the opportunity of perswading them to the work; and as they go, to take a Catalogue of all the persons at years of discretion in the several families, that they may know whom they have to take care of, and instruct, and whom to expect when it cometh to their turns. I have formerly in the distributing of some other Books among them, desired every family to fetch them; but I found more confusion and uncertainty in that way, and now took this as the better. But in small Parishes, either way may serve.