A73023:212
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 next place, hearers may here 1learn; first if their righteousness be thus to be declared as afore, then if they will have it, they must seek it as it may be found, namely, both in the law, and in the Gospel and not in the Gospel alone: and first in the law, then in the Gospel: for he must never look to taste the sweetness of the Gospel, which hath not first swallowed the bitter pills of the law: if therefore thou wouldest be declared righteous by the Gospel, be content first to be pronounced miserable by the law: if thou ⟨p. 39⟩wouldst be declared righteous in Christ, then be content first to be pronounced sinful 2and unrighteous in thy self. Secondly, all men may here learn, how they are to esteem of Gods Ministers, and what reverence and obedience is due to their persons, and their doctrine: these are they which must declare unto thee thy righteousness, if thou hast any: Art thou beholden to him, who, when thou hast lost a Jewell (which was all thy wealth) can tell thee where it is, and help thee to it again? or to him, who, when thy cause is in trial at the bar, will plead it for thee? or to him, who, when thy health is lost, can tell thee how to get it again? then behold how thou art beholden to a godly Minister, who when Adam had lost both himself and thee, that Jewell of righteousness, which was, and is the whole wealth of thy soul, can truly tell thee where it is, and how it is to be had again: and who, when the devil haleth thee to the bar of Gods justice, to receive trial for thy sins, can draw thee there such a declaration, as the devil himself shall not ⟨p. 40⟩be able to answer? and who, when thy soul is sick to death, and even to damnation, can heal the deadly wounds thereof. A good minister therefore is worthy (as the Apostle saith) of double honour, whose duty we see is to declare unto man his righteousness. And to conclude this point also, the consideration of the height of this office of a minister, may encourage fathers to dedicate their sons to this holy 3calling: for the Physicians care for the body, or the Lawyers for thy cause, are both inferior duties to this of the Minister. A good Lawyer may be one of ten: a good Physician one of 20. a good man one of 100. but a good minister is one of 1000. A good Lawyer may declare the true state of thy cause;