A09445:256
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 faithful Ministers must here learn the true way of comforting troubled and distressed consciences, namely, first to draw him unto a sight of some particular sins, then to summon him into Gods presence, and there to arraign him for those sins, until the view of the foulness of his sins, and the glory of Gods justice, have sufficiently humbled him, and then to labour to persuade his conscience upon good grounds of the pardon of those sins by Christ Jesus: this is the way that God used and devised, this is the sure way, that cannot fail.
All faithfull Ministers must heere learne the true way of comforting troubled and distressed consciences, namely, first to drawe him vnto a sight of some particular sinnes, then to summon him into Gods presence, and there to arraigne him for those sinnes, vntill the view of the foulnesse of his sinnes, and the glory of Gods iustice, haue sufficiently humbled him, and then to labour to perswade his conscience vppon good grounds of the pardon of those sinnes by Christ Iesus: this is the way that God vsed and deuised, this is the sure way, that cannot faile.
Some think that all trouble of mind is nothing but melancholy, and therefore ⟨p. 94⟩think nothing needs but Physic and outward comforts: but he that considers in what case the Prophet here was, or David when he made the 6. the 32. or the 51. Psalms, 1will be of another mind, and will find that nothing can properly trouble the mind but sin: therefore as the wise Physician in his cure, first searcheth out the cause, and then endeavour to to take it away: so the good Physician of the soul, must first of all search into the cause of his sickness, that is his sins, and must take them away: which if they do not, then all their labour is lost: for all the company, music, recreation, wit, diet, nay all worldly comforts & delights, if it were the advancement to a kingdom, cannot so much comfort the distressed soul of a sinner, as this voice of a minister spoken from God upon good grounds; Thy sins are forgiven thee. Now to lay down what be thoe true and good grounds, whereupon a Minister may safely and comfortably pronounce pardon of sins to a sinner, belongs properly to another place.