A73023:210
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.
Secondly, they are taught to be holy: to be sanctified and reconciled themselves 1for is it thy office to declare unto man his righteousness, and not thy own to thy self? and how, canst thou be a true witness to testify betwixt God, and the soul of a sinner, when thy own soul knoweth not, nor feeleth the truth of it? certainly such men are but lame witnesses betwixt God, and the sinners soul. David saith to the sinner, I will instruct three in the way 2wherein thou shalt go: but he first of all in the same, sets down his own experience in a large story of his own repentance, and of Gods mercy on himself. 3And though God some time do satisfy, ⟨p. 37⟩and save the poor distressed soul of a sinner, by the testimony of such men, to teach us, that the virtue is not in the men, but in the truth of Gods covenant: yet alas how few are they, to teach us, how pleasing it is unto him, when a Minister is a declarer of that righteousness to others, which he first hath himself: and is a witness of that truth to others, which he first knoweth in his own experience.4
Secondly, they are taught to bee holy: to bee sanctified and reconciled themselues 1for is it thy office to declare vnto man his righteousnesse, and not thy own to thy selfe? and how, canst thou bee a true witnesse to testifie betwixt God, and the soule of a sinner, when thy owne soule knoweth not, nor feeleth the truth of it? certainly such men are but lame witnesses betwixt God, and the sinners soule. Dauid saith to the sinner, I will instruct thre in the way 2wherein thou shalt goe: but hee first of all in the same, sets downe his owne experience in a large story of his owne repentance, and of Gods mercy on himselfe. 3And though God some time doe satisfie,