A09445:108
Of the calling of the ministry two treatises, describing the duties and dignities of…Of the calling of the ministerie two treatises, discribing the duties and dignities of…
Of the calling of the ministry two treatises, describing the duties and dignities of that calling. Delivered publicly in the University of Cambridge, by Master Perkins. Taken then from his mouth, and now diligently perused and published, by a preacher of the word with a preface prefixed touching the publishing of Master Perkins his works, & a catalogue of all such particulars thereof, as are to be expected.Of the calling of the ministerie two treatises, discribing the duties and dignities of that calling. Delivered publickly in the Vniuersitie of Cambridge, by Maister Perkins. Taken then from his mouth, and now dilligently perused and published, by a preacher of the word with a preface prefixed touching the publishing of Maister Perkins his workes, & a catalogue of all such particulars thereof, as are to bee expected.
London: printed by I. Roberts for William Welby, 1605
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.
Shall they be so diligent to destroy souls without a Commission, and incur Gods curse for their labour, and shall not Christian Ministers, be much more diligent to win and redeem souls, having so large a Commission for the purpose, and so great a blessing promised thereunto?
Shall they be so diligent to destroy soules without a Commission, and incurre Gods curse for theyr labour, and shall not Christian Ministers, be much more diligent to winne and redeeme soules, hauing so large a Commission for the purpose, and so great a blessing promised thereunto?
In the next place,1 this doctrine hath use to the hearers. First to let them see the excellency of this calling, which hath a Commission and power to redeem them from hell & damnation, & what honour is due unto it, & to let the wicked man see (which any way abuseth either the persons or the function) how base & unthankful men they are, to recompense evil for so great a good, & therefore no marvel though evil do never depart from the houses & families of such men: and further, to encourage all men to give themselves to God in this great calling, for see here what they are, even the high Commissioners of God. We have in our estate, a power delegated to certain men of worth, & it is called the high Commission, because they have power to do great things, and that man thinks himself happy, who can bring his son to this, to be thought fit to be one of this Commission: but behold here a higher Commission, a Commission from God, to redeem souls from the power of hell, & the devils claws, this is indeed a high Commission, and so high as this, was never granted out of the Court of heaven to any creature but to Ministers: they therefore are the High Commissioners of the high God. Is it not then an honour & happiness unto thee to bring thy son to this estate?
In the next place,1 this doctrine hath vse to the hearers. First to let them see the excellencie of this calling, which hath a Comission and power to redeem them frō hell & damnation, & what honor is due vnto it, & to let the wicked man see (which any way abuseth eyther the persons or the function) howe base & vnthankful men they are, to recōpence euill for so great a good, & therfore no maruell thogh euil do neuer depart frō the houses & families of such men: and further, to encourage all men to giue thēselues to God in this great calling, for see here what they are, euen the high Commissioners of God. VVee haue in our estate, a power delegated to certain men of worth, & it is called the high Commission, because they haue power to do great things, and that man thinks himself happy, who can bring his son to this, to be thought fit to be one of this Commission: but behold heere a higher Commission, a Commission from God, to redeeme soules from the power of hell, & the deuils clawes, this is indeed a high Commission, and so high as this, was neuer granted out of the Court of heauen to any creature but to Ministers: they therefore are the High Commissioners of the high God. Is it not then an honor & happines vnto thee to bring thy sonne to this estate?