A09445:171
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.
Secondly, this showeth the reason of the practise of all Christian churches: who use to sing before the Sermon and after: namely, not for Decorum only, & to grace the action, but to sanctify and to humble our selves, because then we come before Gods presence: they therefore do not think reverently enough of God, and his presence, who do by their practise in any sort,1 make way to the contrary.
Secondly, this sheweth the reason of the practise of al Christian churches: who vse to sing before the Sermon and after: namely, not for Decorum onely, & to grace the action, but to sanctifie and to humble our selues, because then wee come befor Gods presence: they therfore doe not thinke reuerently enough of God, and his presence, who doe by their practise in any sort,1 make way to the contrary.
- 1The 3. use.The 3. vse.
Thirdly, we may here learn, the pitiful case of those ministers, who are so presumptuous, as to exercise that holy function, & yet remain in their sins without repentance: what do these men? they approach to the burning Bush, with their shoes on their feet: that is, into Gods presence in their sins: what shall come of it in the end? surely, that ⟨p. 50⟩burning fire shall consume them? the least sins, & smallest negligences affrighted this holy Prophet, when he should go into Gods presence:1 But these men dare come into the Sanctuary of God; yea dare take Gods words in their mouth's, and yet hate to be reformed, and do cast the glorious Word of God behind their backs, which they preach to others with •heir mouths: these men may wonder at this holy Prophets niceness, or else all the world may wonder at their profaneness. A little pollution of his lips, feared him to come into Gods presence: but these dare do it, with eyes, ears, lips, feet, hands, heart, and all polluted: their eyes polluted, with careless looking at all vanities: their ears with hearing: and their lips with speaking, wanton & wicked talk: their feet, with running into wicked company: their hands, with practicing, and their hearts, with devising and consenting to all wickedness.