A73023:180
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.
In Exodus, the priests are bid to sanctify 1the people, and in Leviticus it is said, that God will be sanctified in all that come near him, but who come so near unto God as the Ministers do? So that it is apparent, Ministers do sanctify the people, and in some construction, God himself: Now, shall they one way be sanctifiers of the people, another way of God himself, and 2no way of themselves? Surely if it be so, they are but lame Interpreters. And this is the reason doubtless, why unsanctified Ministers, and such as are of a loose conversation, bestow such fruitless labours in the Church: many want no learning, no ability to interpret, & yet how few souls do they bring to God? Some it may be are converted by their Ministry, that God may show, the efficacy is not in the person of man, but in the ordinance of God, but few doubtless (for ought that we can see:) to teach us, how God hateth ⟨p. 17⟩him which will take in hand to reconcile others to God, himself being unreconciled. Seeing-then Ministers are Gods Interpreters to the people, to declare & publish their reconciliation with God, and that they cannot be reconciled, unless they be sanctified, and can so hardly be sanctified by the ministry of an unsanctified man: let therefore all true Ministers of God: first be Gods Interpreters to their own consciences, and their own souls Interpreters to God, then shall they know more perfectly how to discharge the office of true Interpreters betwixt God and his people.
In Exodus, the priests are bid to sanctifie 1the people, and in Leuiticus it is saide, that God will be sanctified in all that come neere him, but who come so neere vnto God as the Ministers do? So that it is apparant, Ministers doe sanctifie the people, and in some construction, God himselfe: Nowe, shall they one way bee sanctifiers of the people, another way of God himselfe, and 2no way of themselues? Surely if it bee so, they are but lame Interpreters. And this is the reason doubtlesse, why vnsanctified Ministers, and such as are of a loose conuersation, bestow such fruitlesse labours in the Church: many want no learning, no ability to interpret, & yet how fewe soules doe they bring to God? Some it may bee are conuerted by their Ministerie, that God may shewe, the efficacie is not in the person of man, but in the ordinance of God, but fewe doubtlesse (for ought that we can see:) to teach vs, how God hateth