A09445:84
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 the Acts, Paul saith of himself, that he witnessed to the Jews, 1& to the Gentiles, the repentance towards God, and faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ. In which words is laid down the complete duty of a Minister (as he is a public Angel or Interpreter,) first, to preach repentance, which a man must perform to GOD, whom by his sins he hath grievously offended; secondly, to preach faith in Christ, and free forgiveness, and perfect salvation through that faith in Christ, to all that shall truly believe in him. And after both these, followeth that which is here spoken of, which comprehendeth both the former, namely, to declare unto man his righteousness. So that in these words, are inclusively laid down, these points of a Ministers calling: first, a true Minister may & must declare unto a sinful man where righteousness is to be found, 2namely, in Jesus Christ the righteous. Secondly, how that righteousness may be obtained, namely, by doing ⟨image 24⟩two duties; first, by denying & disclaiming his own righteousness, and that is done by repentance; secondly, by claiming & cleaning to Christs righteousness, and that is done by faith. Thirdly, a true Minister may and must declare this righteousness to him, that is, first publish and proclaim it, that it is ready to be bestowed on every sinner, which will thus apprehend it, and that it is able to justify and save him: secondly, beside a bare publication of this justification, he must (as Paul did) witness and testify it to the conscience of the sinner, that it is as certainly true, as God is true. For as a witness in doubtful cases is called, that by his testimony he may clear the truth, so when the consciences of poor sinners are wavering and doubtful what to believe, when they doubt of this righteousness, then is a true Minister as a faithful witness of God to aver and testify this truth, from his own conscience, knowledge and feeling, of the infallible certainty of Gods promises, unto the doubtful and distressed conscience of the sinner.
In the Acts, Paule saith of himselfe, that he witnessed to the Iewes, 1& to the Gentiles, the repentance towards God, and fayth towards our Lord Iesus Christ. In vvhich words is layde downe the complete dutie of a Minister (as he is a publick Angell or Interpreter,) first, to preach repentance, which a man must performe to GOD, whom by his sinnes he hath grieuously offended; secondly, to preach faith in Christ, and free forgiuenes, and perfect saluation through that faith in Christ, to all that shal truly belieue in him. And after both these, followeth that which is heere spoken of, which comprehendeth both the former, namely, to declare vnto man his righteousnesse. So that in these words, are inclusiuely laid downe, these poynts of a Ministers calling: first, a true Minister may & must declare vnto a sinful man where righteousnesse is to be found,