A09445:148
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.
Now if a Minister must confess ⟨p. 27⟩his peoples sins, then it followeth consequently, that he must know them, and take notice of them, for else he cannot confess them. And this is one cause why the holy Ghost commands a Pastor to know his flock. 1He must not only have a flock, and know which is his flock: or have a general eye over it, but he must have a particular and distinct knowledge of the state of it, and the more particular the better. And if the Minister ought to know his peoples sins, then it followeth, first that it is best for a Minister to be present with his people, that so he may better know them and their state: and certainly if it be a Ministers duty to confess to God the pollutions of his people, then wilful and careless nonresidency and all absence, without just and conscionable causes, must needs be a foul and fearful sin. For how could Isaiah have confessed he dwelt in the midst of a people of polluted lips, but that he dwelt amongst them. Nay saith the Prophet, he dwelt ⟨p. 28⟩in the midst among them, indeed well may he know and confess his peoples pollutions, that dwells in the midst amongst them.
Now if a Minister must confesse ⟨p. 27⟩his peoples sinnes, then it followeth consequently, that hee must knowe them, and take notice of them, for else hee cannot confesse them. And this is one cause why the holy Ghost commaundes a Pastor to knowe his flocke. 1Hee must not onely haue a flocke, and knowe which is his flocke: or haue a generall eye ouer it, but hee must haue a particular and distinct knowledge of the state of it, and the more particular the better. And if the Minister ought to knowe his peoples sinnes, then it followeth, first that it is best for a Minister to bee present with his people, that so hee may better knowe them and their state: and certainly if it bee a Ministers dutie to confesse to God the pollutions of his people, then wilfull and carelesse nonresidency and all absence, without iust and conscionable causes, must needes be a foule and feareful sin. For how could Isayah haue confessed he dwelt in the midst of a people of polluted lips, but that he dwelt amongst them. Nay saith the Prophet, hee dwelt