A09445:138
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.
and he m•st endeavour in his calling, not only to be clear of great crimes, but as far as may be, to be free from the least appearances of evil, and from the least negligences in his place, for a small fault in other men is great in them, and that which may be some ways pardonable in other men, is no way in them: they must therefore watch over themselves most carefully, and take heed to all their ways: and for this end is it, that a Minister in godly wisdom must often deprive himself even of many things (which it may be, lawfully he might use) least his liberty be an occasion of evil to others: ⟨p. 16⟩and must abstain from the least sins, least even they be blemishes to his calling, and burdens to his conscience. And hence is it, that a Minister cannot be too careful in his calling, in his words, diet, company, recreation, apparel, gestures, and in his whole carriage, because little sins are so great in them. Especially Ministers here learn the Apostles Lesson, to be instant in season & out of season: to preach and exhort, to comfort and rebuke publicly and privately: to good, to bad: when it is well taken, when it is ill taken, when they willingly receive it, and when they stubbornly resist it, when they commend him and reward him, and when they rail at him, and persecute him for it: thus must he be diligent in season & out of season, for the least negligence in his duty, or omitting the least opportunity of doing good, will when God visits his conscience, be a burden and vexation to him, as it was here to the Prophet.
and he m•st endeuor in his calling, not onely to be cleere of great crimes, but as farre as may be, to be free from the least appearances of euil, and from the least negligences in his place, for a small fault in other men is great in them, and that which may bee some waies pa•donable in other men, is no way in them: they must therefore watch ouer themselues most carefully, and take heede to all their wayes: and for this ende is it, that a Minister in godly wisedome must often depriue himselfe euen of many things (which it may bee, lawfully hee might vse) least his libertie bee an occasion of euill to others: ⟨p. 16⟩and must abstaine from the least sinnes, least euen they be blemishes to his calling, and burthens to his cōscience. And hence is it, that a Minister cannot be too carefull in his calling, in his words, dyet, companie, recreation, apparell, gestures, and in his whole cariage, because little sinnes are so great in them. Especially Ministers here learne the Apostles Lesson, to bee instant in season & out of season: to preach and exhort, to comfort and rebuke publikely and priuately: to good, to bad: when it is well taken, when it is ill taken, when they willingly receiue it, and when they stubbornly resist it, when they commend him and reward him, and when they raile at him, and persecute him for it: thus must he be diligent in season & out of season, for the least negligence in his dutie, or omitting the least opportunitie of doing good, will when God visits his conscience, be a burthen and vexation to him, as it was here to the Prophet.