Gildas Salvianus: The Reformed Pastor

And therefore 7. See that to such erring persons as you have any hopes of, you carry your selves with as much tenderness and love as will consist with your duty to the Church of God. For most of them when they are once tainted this way, are so selfish and highminded, that they are much more impatient of reproof then many of the profaner sort of people.

And therefore 7. See that to such erring persons as you have any hopes of, you carry your selves with as much tenderness and love as will consist with your duty to the Church of God. For most of them when they are once tainted this way, are so selfish and highminded, that they are much more impatient of reproof then many of the prophaner sort of people.

This way did Musculus take with the Anabaptists, visiting them in Prison, and relieving them even while they railed at him as Antichristian, and so continued without disputing with them, till they were convinced that he loved them, and then they sought to him for advice themselves, & many of them were reclaimed by him.

8 Either in the Conclusion of your meeting, or at another appointed time, when you come to debate their Controversy with them, tell them, That seeing they think you unable to teach them, and think themselves able to teach you, it is your desire to learn; You suppose disputing (as tending usually to exasperate mens minds, rather then to satisfy them) is to be used as the last remedy; Therefore you are here ready, if they are able to Teach you, to learn of them and desire them to speak their minds: Which if they refuse, tell them, you think it the humblest and most Christian edifying way for him that hath most knowledge to Teach, and the other to Learn; and therefore your purpose is to be either a Learner or a Teacher, and not be Disputant, till they make it to be Necessary. When they have declared their minds to you in a teaching way, if it be nothing but the common pleas of the seduced (as its like it will not till then) that this is no new thing to you; it is not the first time that you have heard it, or Considered of it, and if you had found a Divine Evidence in it you had received it long ago: You are truly willing to receive all truth; but you have received that which is contrary to this doctrine, with far better Evidence then they bring for it, &c. If they desire to hear what your Evidence is, tell them if they will hear as learners you shall communicate your Evidence in the meetest way you can, which if they promise to do, let them know that this promise obligeth them to impartiality and an humble free entertainment of the truth, and that they do not turn back in cash carping and contention but take what shall be delivered into sober Consideration: which if they promise,