A09445:92
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.
1In the next place, hearers may here learn: first if their righteousness, be thus to be declared as afore, then if they will have it, they must seek it as it may be found, namely both in the law, and in the ⟨image 27⟩Gospel, and not in the Gospel alone: and first in the law, then in the Gospel, for he must never look to taste▪ the sweetness of the Gospel, which hath not first swallowed the better pills of the law: if therefore thou wouldst be declared righteous by the Gospel, be content first to be pronounced miserable by the law: if thou wouldst be declared righteous in Christ, then be content first to be pronounced sinful and unrighteous in thy self: Secondly, all men may here learn, how they are to esteem of Gods Ministers, and what reverence and obedience is due to their persons, and their doctrine: these are they which must declare unto thee thy righteousness, if thou hast any: Art thou beholden to him, who when thou hast lost a Jewell (which was all thy wealth) can tell thee where it is, and help thee to it again▪ or to him, who when thy cause is in trial at the bar, will plead it for thee? or to him, who when thy health is lost, can tell thee how to get it again? then behold how thou art beholden to a godly Minister, who when Adam had lost both himself and thee, that Jewell of righteousness, which was and is the whole wealth ⟨image 28⟩of thy soul, can truly tell thee where it is, and how it is to be had again: and who when the devil haleth thee to the bar of gods justice, to receive trial for thy sins, can draw thee there such a declaration, as the devil himself shall not be able to answer? and who when thy soul is sick to death, & even to damnation, can heal the deadly wounds thereof. A good Minister therefore is worthy (as the Apostle saith) of double honour, whose duty we see is to declare unto man his righteousness. And to conclude this point also, the consideration of the height of this office of a Minister, may encourage fathers to dedicate their sons to this holy calling:2 for the Physicians care for the body, or the Lawyers, for thy cause, are both inferior duties, to this of the Minister. A good Lawyer may be one of tee, a good Physician one of 20. a good man, one of 100. but a good Minister is one of a 1000.