A73023:142
M. Perkins, his Exhortation to repentance, out of Zephaniah preached in 2. sermons in…
M. Perkins, his Exhortation to repentance, out of Zephaniah preached in 2. sermons in Stourbridge Fair. Together with two treatises of the duties and dignity of the ministry: delivered publicly in the University of Cambridge. With a preface prefixed touching the publishing of all such works of his as are to be expected: with a catalogue of all the particulars [sic] of them, diligently perused and published, by a preacher of the word.M. Perkins, his Exhortation to repentance, out of Zephaniah preached in 2. sermons in Sturbridge Faire. Together with two treatises of the duties and dignitie of the ministrie: deliuered publiquely in the Vniuersitie of Cambridge. With a preface præfixed touching the publishing of all such workes of his as are to be expected: with a catalogue of all the perticulers [sic] of them, diligently perused and published, by a preacher of the word.
London: printed by T. Creede 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.
And surely (Right Worshipful) none might better have written of this subject then he: for who may more worthily describe ⟨image 70⟩the dignities of the Ministry, then he, who neither by doctrine nor conversation, was ever the least disgrace unto his Ministry? or who may better challenge the honour of his calling, then he who was ever an honour to his calling; And who might better teach the duties of the Ministry, then he who so discharged them, as En•ie it self cannot justly reprove, and the enemies themselves cannot but acommend? and who may better teach them to others, then he that carefully practised them in his own person: And as none could be a fitter Author of this discourse then he, so not many fi•ter Patrons then your selves: not many in your profession better scholars, nor any that better love scholars then your selves: & you are some of those few in this wicked age, who willingly yield all dignities and due reverence to such Ministers as you see willingly to discharge the duties of good Ministers. Well would it be with the Ministry of England, (and the better with it, the better with England) if all as great as you, were as good friends to it as you. And if the Papists except, and say how can this be, for that you have been persecutors of their Priests, let ⟨image 71⟩me answer once for you, who often answer for many distressed men: they persecute you with slander, that say you persecuted them, (but be content to bear your part in popish slanders, with our Prince and state, our Counsellors & Clergy, our Parliaments and Laws, for none of these have escaped these viperous tongues) for though you have executed the Laws upon some of them in your several places, yet not with sharpness nor severity but with merciful justice▪ and that also not as they were Priests, but Plotters, Practisers, subverters, and seducers: and as they were Priests, you sought their reformation, not their ruin. And if they, who can hardly discharge themselves from being Priests of Baal, have had but justice, and that also tempered with mercy, it shows how good regard you have, and how much you esteem all good and faithful Ministers, which are God Interpreters.