A73023:259
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.
The use of this doctrine, as it is for all Ministers, so specially for us which live in the University: we live as it were in a Seminary, and many of us are hereafter by Gods grace to be framed to the Ministry, and some of us already are. Now here we have many occasions to be puffed up in self-conceits: we see our 1selves grow in time, in degrees, in learning, in honour, in name and estimation: & to many of us God gives good portions of his gifts: what are all these, but so many baits to allure us to pride, & vain opinions of our own worths? but let us remember the end we aim at, is not humane, nor carnal: our purpose is to save souls, Then the weapons of our war must not be carnal, as pride, vainglory, 2and self-conceit. If therefore we ever look to be made instruments of Gods glory in saving of souls, then at the first set we not before our eyes the honour, but the danger of our calling, and humble we our selves under the mighty hand of our God, that he may exalt ⟨p. 65⟩us in his due time: and let us be content that God give any occasion or means to pull us down, either by outward cross, or inward temptation: and let us rejoice, when we are thereby so far cast down, that we cry out in the astonishment of our spirits, as the Prophet hairs Woe is me, I am undone: but otherwise if we will needs follow the swing of our proud natures, and trust in our own ability, gifts, and learning, let us know, we use carnal weapons in a spiritual warfare: and let us be assured the Lord will work no great work in his Church by our Ministry: we may raise our selves in worldly estimation, and work out our own purposes, but we shall do little in the salvation of souls: for those men do pronounce the most powerful blessings on other mens souls, and speak the best words of comfort to other mens consciences, which oftenest say unto themselves; Woe is me, I am undone.
The vse of this doctrine, as it is for all Ministers, so specially for vs which liue in the Vniuersity: we liue as it were in a Seminary, and many of vs are hereafter by Gods grace to be framed to the Ministery, and some of vs already are. Now here we haue many occasions to be puft vp in self-conceits: we see our 1