A09445:8
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.
To the Right Worshipful Sir Edward Cooke Knight, his Majesties Attorney General, and Sir Thomas Heskith Knight, Attorney of his Highness Court of Wards & liveries, and one of his Majesties Honourable Council in the North, two of Gods principal Attorneys in the Cause of true Religion. Grace and peace from Jesus Christ.
To the Right Worshipfull Sir Edward Cooke Knight, his Maiesties Attorney Generall, and Sir Thomas Heskith Knight, Attorney of his Highnes Court of Wardes & liueries, and one of his Maiesties Honourable Counsell in the North, two of Gods principall Attorneyes in the Cause of true Religion. Grace and peace from Iesus Christ.
Right Worshipful, give me leave to put you both in one Epistle, whom one service, one place, one profession, one order, & one Religion have so nearly combined: As you are Brethren many ways, and especially in the profession & practise of one Religion: so vouchsafe to be joint Patrons of this little afterbirth, this faetus posthumus, of that worthy man Ma. Perkins, now deceased. I send you here one of the shortest, and one of the sweetest of his Treatises: had it been as well brought forth by me, as it was begot by him, it had been a child not unworthy of so great a father: but seeing it is now as a fatherless child, be you the Tutors to this Orphan, at whose hands Orphans and Wards have ever been well used. The father ⟨image 3⟩whilst he lived was a shining light in this our Church, and being dead, is a shining star in heaven, for he turned many to righteousness, 1and his doctrine will shine in Christian Churches whilst the sun shineth upon the earth. The subject of this Treatise is the Ministry, whereof are laid down the duties & dignities. And well doth he couple these two together: for some can challenge the dignities of the Ministry, and cunningly cast the duties from their shoulders: others perform the duties but are kept from the dignities dull belonging to that calling: but as he that will do the duties, may justly challenge the dignities, so he that will expect the dignities, must do the duties of a Minister: therefore in this building, these two beams are in great wisdom well set together by this wise Master builder, and so closely coupled, as the idle or ambitious man cannot look at the dignities, but he must withal behold the duties, nor the painful & laborious man see his duty, but withal shall see the dignity thereto belonging.