A09445:132
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.
The first point in order is, the fear and ecstasy, into which the Lord d•ove this holy Prophet, which the Lord did not in his anger, but in his love unto him, not for a punishment of sin, but as an evidence of his further love: for the intent and purpose of God, in striking this fear into him, was to make him to be a true prophet, & a fit messenger for himself. It may seem a strange course, which God taketh to confirm and raise up his servant in zeal & courage to strike him into an extreme fear, even to astonish & amaze him▪ & yet we see it is the course which the Lord taketh: out of which practise of the Lord, we learn this doctrine: That all true Ministers, especially such a• are deputed to the greatest works in his church, must •e first of all stricken into a great fear, […] consideration of the greatness of their ••nction, yea into an amazement and astonishment, in the admiration of Gods glory and greatness, whose room ⟨p. 6⟩they occupy, and whose message they bring, & the more they are afraid and shrin•, so it be under the contemplation of Gods majesty, & their own weakness, the more likelier it is that they are truly called of God, and appointed for worthy purposes in his church: but he that steps to this function without fear, he may thrust in himself, but its doubtful whether he be called of God, as here the Prophet was: Nor is it so here alone, but every where, when God called any of his servants, to any great work, he first drove them into these fears and amazements, as is evident ain Moses, in bJeremiah, in cS. Paul and others. The reason of this calling of the lord is plain: namely, because mans nature is always ready to take enough and too much unto it self God therefore in his wisdom puts a bridle unto the corrupt nature of man, and astonisheth it, lest it presume too much and take too much upon it self: Again a Minister is to preach unto the people fear and reverence of the Lord: bu how can he do so to others, when he hat