A09445:72
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.
The last reason is,1 more peculiar to this of the new testament, namely, want ⟨image 19⟩of maintenance and preferment, for them that labour in this calling: men are flesh and blood, and in that respect must be allured, & won to embrace this vocation, by some arguments, which may persuade flesh and blood: the world hath in all ages been negligent herein, and therefore God in his law took such strict orders, for the maintenance of the Levites:2 but especially, now under the Gospel, this calling is unprovided for, when it deserves best of all to be rewarded: certainly it were a worthy christian policy, to propound good preferments to this calling, that thereby men of the worthiest gifts might be won unto it, and the want hereof, is cause why so many young men of special parts, and greatest hope, turn to other vocations, and especially to the law, wherein at this day the greatest part of the finest wits of our kingdom, are employed, and why? but because they have all the means to rise, whereas the Ministry, for the most part yieldeth nothing, but a plain way to beggary ▪ this is a great blemish in our church, and surely I wish the Papists, those children ⟨image 19⟩of this world, were not wiser in this kind, (in this point) then the Church of God: the reformation hereof is a work worth the labour of Prince and people, and special care is to be had in it, else it will not be reformed, for doubtless had not God himself in the old testament, taken such straight orders for the livings of the Levites, they had been put to no less extremities, then is the Ministry of this age. And this reason added to the other, makes them perfect, and all put together make a reason infallible: for who will undergo so vile contempt, and undertake so great a charge, for no reward: and where there is so great contempt, so heavy a burden, and so mean a reward, what marvel, if a good Minister be one of a thousand.
The last reason is,1 more peculiar to this of the new testament, namely, want