A09445:316
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.
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,