A73023:204
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 the Acts, Paul saith of himself, that he witnessed to the Jews, & to the Gentiles, 1the repentance towards God, and faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ. In which words is laid down the complete duty of a Minister (as he is a public Angel or Interpreter,) first, to preach repentance, which a man must perform to GOD, whom by his sins he hath grievously offended; secondly, to preach faith in Christ, and free forgiveness, and perfect salvation through that faith in Christ, to all that shall truly believe in him. And after both these, 2followeth that which is here spoken of, which comprehendeth both the former, ⟨p. 32⟩namely, to declare unto man his righteousness. 3So that in these words, are inclusively laid down, these points of a Ministers calling: first, a true Minister may & must declare unto a sinful man where righteousness is to be found, namely, in Jesus Christ: 4the righteous. Secondly, how that righteousness 5may be obtained, namely, by d•• ing two duties: First, by denying & disclaiming 6his own righteousness, and that is done by repentance; secondry, by claiming & cleaning to Christ righteousness, and that is done by faith. Thirdly, a true Minister may and must declare this righteousness to him, that is first publish and proclaim, that it is ready to his bestowed on every sinner, which will thus apprehend it, and that it is able to justify and save him:) secondly, beside a bare publication of this justification, he must (as Paul 7did) witness and testify it to the conscience of the sinner, that it is as certainly true […] God is true. For as a witness in: doubtful cases is called, that by his testimony […] may clear the truth, so when the consciences of poor sinners are […] and