A73023:217
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.
A true minister seeth a sinner hardened in his sins, & still rebelling against the will of God, he therefore declareth unto him his unrighteousness, & his sin, & denounceth unto him, the misery & curses of Gods justice, as due unto him for the same: here he binds on earth, here he retains on earth, this mans sins are likewise bound & retained in heaven. On the other side, he seeth a man penitent, & believing, he pronounceth forgiveness of sins, & happiness unto him for the same: he looseth him from the band of his sins, by declaring unto him his righteousness, this mans sins are likewise loosed & remitted in heaven, & God himself doth pronounce him clear in heaven, when the Minister doth on earth. Thus God confirmeth the word of his servants, and performeth the counsel of his messengers,
A true minister seeth a sinner hardned in his sins, & still rebelling against the will of God, he therfore declareth vnto him his vnrighteousnes, & his sin, & denounceth vnto him, the misery & curses of Gods iustice, as due vnto him for the same: here he binds on earth, here he retains on earth, this mans sins are likewise bound & retained in heauen. On the other side, hee seeth a man penitēt, & belieuing, he pronounceth forgiuenes of sins, & happines vnto him for the same: he looseth him from the band of his sins, by declaring vnto him his righteousnes, this mans sins are likewise loosed & remitted in heauen, & God himselfe doth pronounce him cleare in heauen, when the Minister doth on earth. Thus God confirmeth the word of his seruants, and performeth the counsell of his messengers,
The use of this doctrine is, first for rulers 1and great men of this world, this may teach them to be nursing Fathers and nursing Mothers unto the Church, whose authority they see is so great over them, as that their decree stands ratified in heaven: Therefore though their place be great, 2and they be Gods upon earth, yet must ⟨p. 44⟩