A09445:149
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.
Again, if the Minister be to confess his peoples sins, and therefore must needs know them, then it followeth also that they must discover & confess them unto him, or else it is not possible he should perfectly know their estate: the want of this is a great fault in our Churches, for however we condemn Auricular confession, as a very policy in the devisers, and as a rack to the consciences of poor Christians, yet we not only allow, but call and cry for that confession, whereby a Christian voluntarily at all times may resort to his Pastor, and open his estate, and disburden his conscience of such sins, as disquiet him, and crave his godly assistance, and holy prayers: great blessing and comfort doth doubtless follow them that use this godly practise, and the want of it, is cause that a Minister cannot discern the state even of his own flock, nor can ⟨p. 29⟩complain to God of their pollutions, and confess their sins so particularly as would be good both for him & them. Secondly, the Prophet couples together his own pollution, and the pollutions of his people, as the adiuvant, or helping cause and the effect: For the pollution of a people, helps forward the pollution of a Minister, and the worse people they are, the worse do they make him, though he be otherwise never so good: For even the Prophet, though called of God himself, and justified and sanctified, and a man of extraordinary grace, yet dwelling in the midst of a people so stubborn and disobedient, as the Jews were, he was something touched with their pollutions: Ministers (even the best) are men, and this comes to pass by reason of the corruption of their nature, as they are men: the nature of which corruption, is to apprehend any evil where ever it can be found, and to partake with it: regeneration qualifieth and abates this corruption, but takes it not away perfectly in this life: whereby it ⟨p. 30⟩comes to pass, that a Minister, living amongst evil people, cannot but be somewhat stained with their pollutions, of what sort soever they be; insomuch as it is often seen, that one known to be otherwise disposed of himself, is found to be disposed to this or that evil, by living amongst a people so disposed.
Againe, if the Minister be to confesse his peoples sinnes, and therefore must needes knowe them, then it followeth also that they must discouer & confesse them vnto him, or else it is not possible he should perfectly knowe their estate: the want of this is a great fault in our Churches, for howeuer we condemne Auricular confession, as a very pollicie in the deuisers, and as a rack to the consciences of poore Christians, yet we not onely allowe, but call and cry for that confession, whereby a Christian voluntarily at all times may resort to his Pastor, and open his estate, and disburden his conscience of such sinnes, as disquiet him, and craue his godly assistance, and holy prayers: great blessing and comfort doth doubtlesse followe them that vse this godly practise, and the want of it, is cause that a Minister cānot discerne the state euen of his own flocke, nor can