A09445:175
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.
All ministers therefore, as they would see any fruit of their Ministry, let them first sanctify themselves, & cleanse their hearts by repentance, afore they perfume, to stand up to rebuke sin in others: else let them not think, that their golden words shall do so much good, as their leaden lives shall do hurt: and they may hap to confirm men, that already are converted, but hardly shall any such men, convert any souls from Popery or profaneness. And it is a vain conceit for men to imagine, there is any force in eloquence, or humane learning, to overthrow that sin in others, which ruleth and reigneth in themselves. Our Church, and all reformed churches, may make use of this doctrine: for it is the glory of a Church to have their doctrine powerful, & effectual for the winning of souls, therefore it concerneth them, to take order, as ⟨p. 35⟩well that their ministers be godly men, as good Scholars, & their lives inoffensive, as well as their doctrine sound: or else they will find in woeful experience, that they pull down as much with the one hand, as they build up with the other.
All ministers therfore, as they would see any fruite of their Ministerie, let them first sanctifie themselues, & clense their hearts by repentance, afore they persume, to stand vp to rebuke sinne in others: else let them not thinke, that their golden words shall doe so much good, as their leaden liues shall doe hurt: and they may happe to confirme men, that already are conuerted, but hardly shall any such men, conuert any soules from Poperie or prophanesse. And it is a vaine conceite for men to imagine, there is any force in eloquence, or humane learning, to ouerthrow that sin in others, which ruleth and raigneth in themselues. Our Church, and all reformed churches, may make vse of this doctrine: for it is the glory of a Church to haue their doctrine powerfull, & effectuall for the winning of soules, therfore it concerneth them, to take order, as ⟨p. 35⟩well that their ministers be godly men, as good Schollers, & their liues inoffensiue, as wel as their doctrine sound: or els they will find in wofull experience, that they pull downe as much with the one hand, as they build vp with the other.