A09445:90
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.
Secondly, they are taught to be holy: to be sanctified and reconciled themselves, for it is thy office to declare unto man his righteousness, and not thy own to thy ⟨image 26⟩self: and how canst thou be a true witness to testify betwixt God, and the soul of a sinner, when thy own soul knoweth not, nor feeleth the truth of it? certainly such men a•e but lame witnesses betwixt God, and the sinners soul. David saith to the sinner, I will instruct thee in the way wherein thou shalt go:1 but he first of all in the same, sets down his own experience, in a large story of his own repentance, and of Gods mercy on himself. And though God sometime do satisfy, and save the poor distressed soul of a sinner, by the testimony of such men, to teach us that the virtue is not in the men, but in the truth of Gods covenant: yet alas how few are they, to teach us how pleasing it is unto him, when a Minister is a declarer of that righteous to others, which he first hath himself, and is a witness of truth to others, which he first knoweth in his own experience.
Secondly, they are taught to bee holy: to bee sanctified and reconciled themselues, for it is thy office to declare vnto man his righteousnesse, and not thy own to thy ⟨image 26⟩selfe: and how canst thou be a true witnes to testifie betwixt God, and the soule of a sinner, when thy owne soule knoweth not, nor feeleth the truth of it? certainly such men a•e but lame witnesses betwixt God, and the sinners soule. Dauid saith to the sinner, I will instruct thee in the way wherein thou shalt goe:1 but he first of all in the same, sets downe his owne experience, in a large story of his owne repentance, and of Gods mercy on himselfe. And though God sometime doe satisfie, and saue the poore distressed soule of a sinner, by the testimonie of such men, to teach vs that the vertue is not in the men, but in the truth of Gods couenant: yet alas how fewe are they, to teach vs how pleasing it is vnto him, when a Minister is a declarer of that righteous to others, which he first hath himselfe, and is a witnes of truth to others, which he first knoweth in his owne experience.