A73023:266
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 again, if these small faults so affrighted this holy prophet, & burdened his conscience, then what pitiful consciences have those ministers, whose daily negligence, and unconscionable ⟨p. 74⟩carelessness in their places is such, as all men speak of, and yet they are not touched: surely these men are not of so tender consciences as the prophet was: & either the prophet here was much more nice then needed, or else these men will prove to be in a miserable estate.
And againe, if these smal faults so affrighted this holy prophet, & burdened his conscience, then what pittifull consciences haue those ministers, whose daily negligence, and vnconscionable ⟨p. 74⟩carelessenesse in their places is such, as all men speake of, and yet they are not touched: surely these men are not of so tender cōsciences as the prophet was: & either the prophet here was much more nice then needed, or else these men will proue to be in a miserable estate.
Lastly, let Ministers of care and conscience, be here comforted in the example 1of the Prophet: who is there, but may find imperfections and blemishes in himself, which will often make him cry out; Woe is me? but let not that discomfort them, but rather rejoice, that they can see their own weakness, as the Prophet did here: If they have cause to exclaim against themselves, they are not alone, it was this, and all other holy prophets case before them. In having imperfections in themselves, they are no more miserable then the Prophet was: but let them labour to be as blessed in seeing & complaining of themselves as he was: And let every minister assure himself, that the more he makes conscience, even of the least sins of ⟨p. 75⟩all, the more he resembleth the ancient holy Prophets, & the more likely is he to work effectually in his ministry. For his duty is to work in his people a conscience, not of great sins only, but even of all: but how can he do that in them, if he have not first of all done it in himself? hence it is therefore, that godly ministers find fault with themselves,