A73023:178
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.
Let no man think I here give the least allowance to Anabaptisticall fancies, 1and revelations, which are nothing, but either dreams of their own, or illusions of the Devil, for they contemn both humane learning, and the study of the scripture, and trust wholly to revelations of the spirit; but Gods Spirit worketh not but upon the foundation of the word: only I teach this, that a Minister must be a divine Interpreter, an Interpreter of Gods meaning. And therefore he must not only read the books, but eat it, that is, not only have the knowledge of Divine things flowing in his brain, but engraven in his heart, and printed in his soul by the spiritual finger of God: and therefore for this end, after all his own study, meditation, conference, Commentaries, and after all humane helps, he must pray with David, 2Open thou mine eyes, that I may see the wonders of thy law. The discerning of those wonders requires a spiritual illumination, and the opening of them requires the tongue of the learned. Therefore after all the study which flesh and blood, and humane ⟨p. 15⟩reason can yield, pray with the Prophet, Lord give me the tongue of the learned, that I may be a right interpreter of thy holy will.
Let no man thinke I heere giue the least allowance to Anabaptisticall fancies, 1and reuelations, which are nothing, but eyther dreames of their owne, or illusions of the Diuell, for they contemne both humane learning, and the study of the scripture, and trust wholy to reuelations of the spirit; but Gods Spirit worketh not but vpon the foundation of the worde: onely I teach this, that a Minister must bee a diuine Interpreter, an Interpreter of Gods meaning. And therfore he must not onely reade the books, but eate it, that is, not onely haue the knowledge of Diuine things flowing in his braine, but ingrauen in his heart, and printed in his soule by the spirituall finger of God: and therefore for this end, after all his owne study, meditation, conference, Commentaries, and after all humane helps, hee must pray with Dauid, 2