A26932:886
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.
2. And I would advise you to be very cautelous how you pass too hasty or absolute Censures on any that you have to do with; because it is not so easy a matter to discern a man to be certainly graceless that professeth himself a Christian, as many do imagine it to be; And you may do the work in hand as well without such an absolute conclusion as with it, as the former examples (which will serve all with a little alteration do) show.
2. And I would advise you to be very cautelous how you pass too hasty or absolute Censures on any that you have to do with; because it is not so easie a matter to discern a man to be certainly graceless that professeth himself a Christian, as many do imagine it to be; And you may do the work in hand as well without such an absolute conclusion as with it, as the former examples (which will serve all with a little alteration do) shew.
3. The general descriptions of the Ministerial work, may supply the rest. I shall only add in a word. 1. Keep them close to the use of private and public means. 2. Be oft with the luke-warm to awaken them rousingly; and with the careless to admonish them. 3. Take the opportunity of sickness which will bow their hearts and open their ears. 4. See that they spend the Lords day, and order their families, aright. 5. Draw them from temptations and occasions of sin. 6. Charge them to come and seek help in all great straits and open their temptations and dangers before they are swallowed up 7. Strike at the great Radical sins. Self-seeking, fleshly mindedness, sensuality, Pride, worldliness, Infidelity, &c. 1. Keep them to the Reading of Scripture and good books, and direct them to those that are likest to awake them. 8. Engage their godly neighbours to have an eye upon them. 9. Keep up Discipline to awe them: 10. Maintain the life of Grace in your selves that it may appear in all your Sermons to them; that every one that comes cold to the Assembly may have warming helps before he depart.
3. The general descriptions of the Ministerial work, may supply the rest. I shall only add in a word. 1. Keep them close to the use of private and publike means. 2. Be oft with the luke-warm to awaken them rouzingly; and with the careless to admonish them. 3. Take the opportunity of sickness which will bow their hearts and open their ears. 4. See that they spend the Lords day, and order their families, aright. 5. Draw them from temptations and occasions of sin. 6. Charge them to come and seek help in all great streights and open their temptations and dangers before they are swallowed up 7. Strike at the great Radical sins. Self-seeking, fleshly mindedness, sensuality, Pride, wordliness, Infidelitie, &c. 1. Keep them to the Reading of Scripture and good books, and direct them to those that are likest to awake them. 8. Engage their godly neighbours to have an eye upon them. 9. Keep up Discipline to awe them: 10. Maintain the life of Grace in your selves that it may appear in all your Sermons to them; that every one that comes cold to the Assembly may have warming helps before he depart.