A09445:159
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, here people are taught, not to be too sharp condemners of those Ministers, whose conversations are not so unblameable as were to be wished: for if they live ill, generally the cause is, because ⟨p. 38⟩they live amongst an ill people.
Lastly, here people are taught, not to be too sharpe condemners of those Ministers, whose conuersations are not so vnblameable as were to be wished: for if they liue ill, generally the cause is, because ⟨p. 38⟩they liue amongst an ill people.
Why then should they so much condemn them, for such faults▪ as wherein themselves have made them faulty? I say not, but our Church, and state, and Ministry, are to censure such men, (and it were good they did it more) but it is against all reason the people should do so, whereas themselves are the cause of it▪ For alas, if this holy Prophet was a man of polluted lips, because he• dwelt with a people of polluted lips; what marvel then, though ordinary Ministers be polluted with the common and universal pollutions of their people: People therefore, are first of all to see that themselves be well ordered and godly, and then justly may they complain, if the lives of their Ministers be not agreeable▪ but otherwise, it is not possible without very special grace of God, but that a minister shall be more or less touched with those crimes which are the common faults of his people. And lamentable experience daily lets us see, that where a people in a town is given ⟨p. 39⟩to drunkenness, there the Minister, is either so for company, or at least too good a fellow: where a people are given to contention, there the Minister hath too many suites: where the people be popish, there the minister is too superstitious: where the people be ignorant, there the minister is no great clerk: where the people are given to any great sin, there the Minister generally is not clear from the same pollution: and it is seen, that the best Ministers and most careful of all, do complain bitterly of the pollutions of their people: for that howsoever it may be they escape partaking with their sins: yet they always find, at the least a dulling and decaying of Gods graces in themselves, where the people are untoward and disobedient. If therefore a Minister live with such a people, his case is pitiful and dangerous, for he walks in the midst of nets & snares, which are laid for him on every side, and if he escape them (I mean, if he keep himself