A73023:264
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.
and he must endeavour in his calling, not only to be clear of great crimes, but as far as may be, to be free from the least appearance of evil, and from the least negligences in his place, for a small fault in other men is great in them, and that which may be some ways pardonable in other men, is no way in them: they must therefore watch over themselves most carefully, 1and take heed to all their ways: & for this end is it, that a Minister in godly wisdom must often deprive himself even of many things (which it may be, lawfully he might use) least his liberty ⟨p. 72⟩be an occasion of evil to others: and must abstain from the least sins, least even they be blemishes to his calling, and burdens to his conscience. And hence is it, that a minister cannot be too careful in his calling, in his words, diet, company, recreation, apparel, gestures, and in his whole carriage, because little sins are so great in them, Especially 2ministers must here learn the Apostles lesson, to be instant in season and out of season: to preach and exhort, to comfort and rebuke, publicly and privately: to good, to bad: when it is well taken, when it is ill taken: when they willingly receive it, and when they stubbornly resist it: when they commend him, and reward him, and when they rail at him, and persecute him for it: thus must he be diligent in season and out of season, for the least negligence in his duty, or omitting the least opportunity of doing good, will when God visits his conscience, be a burden and vexation to him, as it was here to the Prophet.
and he must endeuour in his calling, not only to be cleere of great crimes, but as far as may be, to bee free from the least appearance of euill, and from the least negligences in his place, for a small faultin other men is great in them, and that which may be some waies pardonable in other men, is no way in them: they must therefore watch ouer themselues most carefully, 1and take heede to all their waies: & for this ende is it, that a Minister in godly wisedome must often depriue himselfe euen of many things (which it may be, lawfully hee might vse) least his liberty ⟨p. 72⟩