A26932:849
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.
6. But specially take care that you discern the spirit ⟨p. 458⟩of the man: And if he be a settled perverse Schismatic, or Heretic, so that you see him peremptory and resolved, and quite transported with pride, and have no great hopes of his recovery, then do all this that I have before said openly before all that are present; that he may be humbled or shamed before all, and the rest may be confirmed. But if you find him godly and temperate, and that there is any hope of his reduction, then see that you do all this privately between him and you only: and let not fall any bitter words, nor that tend to his disparagement. And thus I advise, both because we must be as tender of the reputation of all good men, as fidelity to them and to the truth will permit: we must bear one another's burdens, and not increase them, and we must restore those with a spirit of meekness, that fall through infirmity; remembering that we our selves also may be tempted: and also because there is small hope that you should ever do them good, if once you exasperate them, and dis-affect them towards you.
6. But specially take care that you discern the spirit ⟨p. 458⟩of the man: And if he be a setled perverse Schismatick, or Heretick, so that you see him peremptory and resolved, and quite transported with pride, and have no great hopes of his recovery, then do all this that I have before said openly before all that are present; that he may be humbled or shamed before all, and the rest may be confirmed. But if you find him godly and temperate, and that there is any hope of his reduction, then see that you do all this privately between him and you only: and let not fall any bitter words, nor that tend to his disparagement. And thus I advise, both because we must be as tender of the reputation of all good men, as fidelity to them and to the truth will permit: we must bear one anothers burdens, and not encrease them, and we must restore those with a spirit of meekness, that fall through infirmity; remembring that we our selves also may be tempted: and also because there is small hope that you should ever do them good, if once you exasperate them, and dis-affect them towards you.