A09445:136
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.
Lastly, whereas he exclaimeth, Woe is me, I am undone: being words of a soul humbled & dejected, & hereby showeth himself to be in that case, which a poor sinner is, when the preaching of the law hath humbled him, by showing him his sins and his extreme danger by them. We may learn, that to be called to the Ministry, is to be as it were converted and regenerate: & that when a man is called thereunto, it is a work little less then that whereby God calleth a sinner from his sin, to the state of repentance: for as God first casteth down the sinner, before he give him grace, or any feeling of his love in Christ: so here, he first abaseth and casteth down the Prophet in the sight of G•ds Majesty, and his own misery, afore he honour him with a Commission to preach peace unto his people. Which I note against those men, which hold it so ordinary a matter to enter into the Ministry, as many do, which take it upon them in ⟨p. 12⟩worldly and politic purposes. And some of a better rank, which think if a man have learning, degrees and age, he is sufficiently qualified for that calling. But alas, this is not all; there is a greater work to be wrought then so, he must be humbled & cast down, in sight of the greatness of that calling, of the majesty of that God whose room he is to execute, & of the unworthiness of himself to so great a work: he must be resolved, that to call a man to the Ministry, is the greatest work that GOD worketh in his Church, but the converting of a sinner, and calling him to the state of grace: nay it is a work even like unto it: for as a sinner in his conversion, so he at his Vocation to that place, is often to cry out in the amazement of his soul, Woe is me I am undone. As therefore they are folly deceived, which think any holiness or sanctification, can sufficiently qualify a man without learning, so are they no less which think all outward complements to be sufficient without this work, which here was ⟨p. 13⟩wrought in the holy Prophet. Thus we see the fear and astonishment of the Prophet. It followeth; For I am a man of polluted lips.
Lastly, whereas he exclaimeth, Woe is me, I am vndone: being words of a soule humbled & deiected, & hereby sheweth himselfe to be in that case, which a poore sinner is, when the preaching of the law hath humbled him, by shewing him his sinnes and his extreame danger by them. We may learne, that to bee called to the Ministery, is to be as it were conuerted and regenerate: & that when a man is called thereunto, it is a worke little lesse then that whereby God calleth a sinner from his sinne, to the state of repentance: for as God first casteth downe the sinner, before hee giue him grace, or any feeling of his loue in Christ: so here, hee first abaseth and casteth downe the Prophet in the sight of Gds Maiestie, and his owne miserie, afore hee honour him with a Commission to preach peace vnto his people. Which I note against those men, which hold it so ordinary a matter to enter into the Ministerie, as many doe, which take it vppon them in