A26932:817
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.
bethink your self whether it be not madness to slight such an endless glory, and to prefer these fleshly dreams, and earthly shadows before it. Use your self to such considerations as these, when you are alone, and let them dwell upon your mind. The third thing that I would entreat of you is, that you will presently without any more delay, Accept of this felicity and this Saviour: close with the Lord Jesus that offereth you this eternal life: Joyfully and thankfully accept his offer, as the only way to make you happy: and then you may believe that all your sins shall be done away by him. My fourth request to you is, that you will resolve presently against your former sins: ⟨p. 446⟩find out what hath defiled your heart and life, and cast it up now by the vomit of Repentance, as you would do Poison out of your stomach, and abhor the thought of taking it in again. My fifth and last request to you is that you will set your selves close to the use of Gods means till this change be wrought, and then continue his means till you are confirmed, and (at last) perfected. 1. Because you cannot of your selves make this change upon your heart and life betake your self daily to God for it by prayer, and beg earnestly as for your life that he will pardon all your former sins, and change your heart, and show you the riches of his Grace in Christ, and the Glory of his Kingdom, and draw up your heart to himself. Follow God day and night with these requests. 2. That you will fly from temptations and occasions of sin, and forsake your former evil company, and betake your selves into the company of those that fear God, and will help you in the way to heaven. 3. That you will specially spend the Lords day in holy exercises both public and private, and lose not one quarter of an hour of any of your time, but specially of that most precious time, which God hath given you purposely that you may set your mind upon him, and be instructed by him and to prepare your self for your latter end. What say you will you do this presently? at least so much of it as you can do if you will. Will you promise me to think of these things that I before mentioned, and to pray daily for a changed heart till you have obtained it, and to change your Company and Courses, and fall upon the use of ⟨p. 447⟩Gods means in reading or hearing the Scriptures, meditating on them, specially on the Lords day?
bethink your self whether it be not madness to slight such an endless glory, and to prefer these fleshly dreams, and earthly shadows before it. Use your self to such considerations as these, when you are alone, and let them dwell upon your mind. The third thing that I would intreat of you is, that you will presently without any more delay, Accept of this felicity and this Saviour: close with the Lord Jesus that offereth you this eternal life: Joyfully and thankfully accept his offer, as the only way to make you happy: and then you may believe that all your sins shall be done away by him. My fourth request to you is, that you will resolve presently against your former sins: