A09445:65
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.
In Exodus,1 the priests are bid to sanctify the people, and in Leviticus it is said, that God will be sanctified in all that come near him, but who come so near unto God as the Ministers do? so that it is apparent, Ministers do sanctify the people, and in some construction, God himself: Now, shall they one way be sanctifiers of the people, another way of God himself, & no way of themselves? Surely if it be so, they are but lame Interpreters; And this is the reason doubtless, why unsanctified Ministers, and such as are of a loose conversation, bestow such fruitless labours in the Church: many want no learning, no ability to interpret, & yet how few souls ⟨image 17⟩do they bring to God? Some it may be are converted by their ministry, that God may show, the efficacy is not in the person of man, but in the ordinance of God, but few doubtless (for ought that we can see) do teach us, how God hateth him which will take in hand to reconcile others, himself being unreconciled to God. Seeing then Ministers are Gods Interpreters to the people, to declare & publish their reconciliation with God, & that they cannot be reconciled, unless they be sanctified, and can so hardly be sanctified by the ministry of an unsanctified man: let therefore all true ministers of God: first be Gods Interpreters to their own consciences, and their own souls Interpreters to God, then shall they know more perfectly how to discharge the office of true Interpreters betwixt God & his people.
In Exodus,1 the priests are bid to sanctifie the people, and in Leuiticus it is sayde, that God will bee sanctified in all that come neere him, but who come so neere vnto God as the Ministers doe? so that it is apparant, Ministers doe sanctifie the people, and in some construction, God himselfe: Nowe, shall they one way be sanctifiers of the people, another way of God himselfe, & no way of themselues? Surely if it bee so, they are but lame Interpreters; And this is the reason doubtlesse, why vnsanctified Ministers, and such as are of a loose conuersation, bestow such fruitlesse labors in the Church: many want no learning, no ability to interpret, & yet how few soules ⟨image 17⟩