A26932:802
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.
if they are are teachable, and tractable, and willing to use means, and to live obediently: For many even ⟨p. 432⟩ancient godly persons cannot speak their minds in any tolerable expressions: no nor cannot learn when expressions are put into their mouths. Some of the most pious experienced, approved Christians that I know (aged people) complain exceedingly to me with tears that they cannot learn the words of the Catechism, and when I consider their advantages that they have lived under the most excellent helps, in constant duty, and in the best company for forty or fifty or sixty years together, it teacheth me what to expect from poor ignorant people that never had such company and converse for one year or week: and not to reject them so hastily as some hot and too high professors would have us do. But this is on the by.
if they are are teachable, and tractable, and willing to use means, and to live obediently: For many even ⟨p. 432⟩ancient godly persons cannot speak their minds in any tolerable expressions: no nor cannot learn when expressions are put into their mouths. Some of the most pious experienced, approved Christians that I know (aged people) complain exceedingly to me with tears that they cannot learn the words of the Catechism, and when I consider their advantages that they have lived under the most excellent helps, in constant duty, and in the best company for fourty or fifty or sixty years together, it teacheth me what to expect from poor ignorant people that never had such company and converse for one year or week: and not to reject them so hastily as some hot and too high professors would have us do. But this is on the by.
5. This also must be observed, that if you find them at a loss, and unable to answer your questions, drive them not on too hard or too long with question after question, lest they conceive you intend but to puzzle them and disgrace them: but presently, when you perceive them troubled that they cannot answer, then step in your self and take the burden off them, & make answer to the question your selves; and then do it throughly and plainly, and make a full explication of the whole business to them, that by your Teaching they may be brought to understand it before you leave them. And herein it is commonly necessary that you fetch up the matter ab origine, & take it on in order till you come to the point in question.