A73023:268
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.
Hitherto hath the prophet complained generally of his pollution.
Particularly, he exclaimeth against the pollution of his lips. But why will 1some say, complains he of the pollution of his lips, rather then of his heart, or his hands, or any other part of him, were they not all polluted▪ yes, all in some measure: and was not he grieved at them all? yes assuredly, we must grant that also. But the reason is he was a prophet, his duty was to use his tongue, the practise of his calling consisted 2in the use of his tongue: for a minister is an interpreter, as he is called, Job 33. 23. that is, the peoples to God by prayer, and Gods to the people by preaching: he is Gods mouth, and the peoples mouth: so that the tongue of a Minister is that part of his body, which is to be used as a principal instrument of Gods glory, and more to the setting forth of his honour then any other: Now every man is to be tried what he is by his calling, rather then by any other accidental or collateral courses: therefore the ⟨p. 77⟩honour or dishonour of a minister, is the use or the abuse of his tongue: and his comfort or discomfort is the well using, or not using of it. The prophet therefore here affrighted at Gods presence, 3and therefore retiring into himself, presently his conscience checks him for his most proper sins: namely, for some fault or negligence in his Ministry, (which is the proper sin of that calling) and therefore is it that he exclaimeth against the pollutions of his lips: out of which practise of his we may learn;4