A26932:808
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.
Direct. 6. Whether they be grossly Ignorant or not, if you suspect them to be ungodly, fall next upon a prudent enquiry into their states, And the best and least offensive way will be this: to take your occasion from some Article of the Catechism, as the fifth or seventh; and then to make way by a word that may demulce their minds, by convincing them of the necessity of it; as E. g. thus, or to this ⟨p. 437⟩purpose, You see in the 7. Article proved by Scripture, that the Holy-Ghost doth by the word enlighten mens minds, and soften and open their hearts, and turn them from the power of Satan to God by faith in Christ, and so makes them a Sanctified peculiar people to God; and that none but these are made partakers of Christ and life: Now though I have no desire needlessly to pry into any mans secrets, yet because that it is the office of Ministers to give advice to a people in the matters of salvation, and because it is so dangerous a matter to be mistaken, where life or death everlasting doth lie upon it, I would entreat you to deal truly and tell me, Whether ever you found this great change upon your own heart, or not? Did you ever find the spirit of God by the word, come in upon your understanding, with a new heavenly life, which hath made you a new creature? The Lord that seeth your heart doth know whether it be so or not? Therefore I pray you, see that you speak the truth.
Direct. 6. Whether they begrosly Ignorant or not, if you suspect them to be ungodly, fall next upon a prudent enquiry into their states, And the best and least offensive way will be this: to take your occasion from some Article of the Catechism, as the fifth or seventh; and then to make way by a word that may demulce their minds, by convincing them of the necessity of it; as E. g. thus, or to this ⟨p. 437⟩purpose, You see in the 7. Article proved by Scripture, that the Holy-Ghost doth by the word enlighten mens minds, and soften and open their hearts, and turn them from the power of Satan to God by faith in Christ, and so makes them a Sanctified peculiar people to God; and that none but these are made partakers of Christ and life: Now though I have no desire needlesly to pry into any mans secrets, yet because that it is the office of Ministers to give advice to a people in the matters of salvation, and because it is so dangerous a matter to be mistaken, where life or death everlasting doth lie upon it, I would intreate you to deal truly and tell me, Whether ever you found this great change upon your own heart, or not? Did you ever find the spirit of God by the word, come in upon your understanding, with a new heavenly life, which hath made you a new creature? The Lord that seeth your heart doth know whether it be so or not? Therefore I pray you, see that you speak the truth.