A26932:790
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. Having used these means to procure them to come in and submit to your teaching, the next thing to be considered is, how you should deal most effectually with them in the work; And again I must say, that I think it an easier matter by far, to compose and preach a good Sermon, then to deal rightly with an Ignorant man for his instruction in the Necessary Principles of Religion. As much as this work is contemned by some, I doubt not but it will try the parts and spirits of Ministers, and show you the difference between one man and another, more fully then Pulpit-preaching will do. And here I shall as fitting to my purpose; transcribe the words of a most Learned, Orthodox and godly man, Bishop Usher, in his Sermon before King James at Wan••ed, on Eph. 4. 13. pag. 44, 45. (but Impres. 3. pag. 34, 35.) Your Majesties care can never be sufficiently commended, in taking order that the chief heads of the Catechism should in the ordinary Ministry be diligently propounded and explained unto the people throughout the Land. Which I wish were as duly executed every where, as it was piously by you intended. Great Scholars possibly may think, that it standeth not so well with their credit, to stoop thus low, and to spend so much of their time, in teaching these rudiments and first principles of the Doctrine of Christ. But they should consider that the laying of the foundation ⟨p. 424⟩skilfully, as it is the matter of greatest importance in the whole building; so is it the very Master-piece of the wisest builder; 1 Cor. 3. 10. According to the grace of God which is given to me, as a wise Master-builder I have laid the foundation, saith the great Apostle. And let the learnedst of us all try it when ever we please, we shall find that to lay this ground-work rightly (that is, to apply our selves to the capacity of the common Auditory, and to make an Ignorant man to understand these mysteries in some good measure) will put us to the trial of our skill, and trouble us a great deal more, then if we were to discuss a Controversy, or handle a subtle point of learning in the Schools. Yet Christ did give as well his Apostles, and Prophets, and Evangelists, as his ordinary Pastors and Teachers to bring us all both learned and unlearned, unto the Unity of this faith and knowledge: and the neglecting of this, is the frustrating of the whole work of the Ministry.