Out of this word, God showeth thee the dignity and excellency of this calling,1 to be a minister of the word: Namely, they are his Messengers & Ambassadors, ⟨p. 123⟩&c. that so he may win them to love and affect it. And again,2 the necessity of it, that it teacheth the way to salvation, that without it ordinarily Gods Chuch is not gathered, nor mens souls saved, that this may stir thee up to undertake the burden: this is general. But now particularly for thy self, wouldst thou know whether GOD would have thee to go or no, then thou must ask thy own conscience, and ask the Church, for if thou be heartily willing, and be fully and worthily qualified, then God bids thee go. Now thy conscience must judge of thy willingness, and the Church of thy ability: and as thou mayest not trust other men, to judge of thy inclination or affection, so thou mayst not trust thy own judgement, to judge of thy worthiness or sufficiency. If therefore thy own conscience tell thee upon true examination, that thou doest not love and affect this calling above any other, then God sends thee not: and if thou enter with such a testimony, not God ▪ but some worldly and sinister respect doth send thee, and put thee forward: ⟨p. 124⟩for though thou doest desire it, yet if the Church of God give not allowance of sufficiency, God doth not send thee: But if contrariwise, thy conscience do truly testify unto thee, that thou desirest to do service to God and his Church, in this calling above any other: And if withal, upon signification hereof to the Church, and upon trial made of thy gifts & sufficiency, the Church (that is, many learned, wise, and godly, and such as the Church hath publicly appointed for that purpose) do approve of that they desire, and of thy sufficiency to do God service in his Ministry, and thereupon by a public Calling, bid thee go, then assuredly God himself hath bid thee go. And it is as effectual a calling, as if thou heardst the voice of God from heaven: for as in Repentance, If thy conscience tell thee thou hast truly repented, and if thou canst make that known to the Church by so good evidence, as thereupon a Minister of God pronounceth the pardon of thy sins unto the• If thou restest herein, & knowest it to be as effectual, ⟨p. 125⟩as if God from heaven had told thee, thy sins are pardoned.
Out of this word, God sheweth thee the dignitie and excellencie of this calling,1 to be a minister of the word: Namely, they are his Messengers & Ambassadors, ⟨p. 123⟩&c. that so hee may winne them to loue and affect it. And againe,2 the necessicitie of it, that it teacheth the way to sa•uation, that without it ordinarily Gods Chuch is not gathered, nor mens soules saued, that this may stirre thee vp to vndertake the burthen: this is generall. But now particularly for thy selfe, wouldst thou know whether GOD would haue thee to goe or no, then thou must aske thy owne conscience, and aske the Church, for if thou be heartily willing, and be fully and worthily qualified, then God bids thee goe. Now thy conscience must iudge of thy willingnesse, and the Church of thy abilitie: and as thou maist not trust other men, to iudge of thy inclination or affection, so thou mayst not trust thy owne iudgement, to iudge of thy worthines or sufficiencie. If therefore thy owne conscience tell thee vpon true examination, that thou doest not loue and affect this calling aboue any other, then God sends thee not: and if thou enter with such a testimonie, not God ▪ but some wordly and sinister respect doth send thee, and put thee forward: ⟨p. 124⟩for though thou doest desire it, yet if the Church of God giue not allowance of sufficiency, God doth not send thee: But if contrariwise, thy conscience do truly testifie vnto thee, that thou desirest to doe seruice to God and his Church, in this calling aboue any other: And if withal, vpon signification hereof to the Church, and vpon trial made of thy gifts & sufffciency, the Church (that is, maly learned, wise, and godly, and such as the Church hath publikely appointed for that purpose) do approue of that they desire, and of thy sufficiencie to doe God seruice in his Ministery, and thereupon by a publike Calling, bid thee goe, then assuredly God himselfe hath bid thee goe. And it is as effectuall a calling, as if thou heardst the voyce of God frō heauen: for as in Repentance, If thy conscience tell thee thou hast truly repented, and if thou canst make that knowne to the Church by so good euidēce, as thervpon a Minister of God pronounceth the pardon of thy sins vnto the• If thou restest herein, & knowest it to bee as effectuall, ⟨p. 125⟩
- 11. Corinth. 4.1. Job. 33.231. Corinth. 4.1. Iob. 33.23
- 2Acts 16.17. Pro. 29.18
