A73023:290
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.
Why then should they so much condemn them, for such faults, as wherein themselves have made them faulty? I say not, but our Church and state, and Ministry, are to censure such men, (and it were good they did it more) but it is against all reason the people should do so, whereas themselves are the cause of it: For alas, if this holy Prophet was a man of polluted lips, because he dwelt with a people of polluted lips: what marvel then, though ordinary Ministers be polluted with the common and universal pollutions of their people: People therefore, are first of all to see that themselves be well ordered and godly, and then justly may they complain, if the lives of their Ministers be not agreeable: but otherwise, it is not possible without very special grace of God, but that a minister shall be more or less touched With those crimes which are the common faults of his people. And lamentable experience daily lets us see, 1that where a people in a town is given ⟨p. 95⟩to drunkenness, there the Minister, is either so for company, or at least too good a fellow: where a people are given to contention, there the Minister hath too many suits: where the people be Popish, there the Minister is too superstitious: where the people be ignorant, there the Minister is no great clerk: where the people are given to any great sin, there the Minister generally is not clear from the same pollution: and it is seen, that the best ministers & most careful of all, do complain bitterly of the pollutions of their people: for that how soever it may be they escape partaking with their sins: yet they always find, at the least a dulling & decaying of Gods graces in themselves, where the people are untoward and disobedient. If therefore a Minister lives with such a people, his case is pitiful and dangerous, for he walks in the midst of nets and snares, which are laid for him on every side, and if he escape them (I mean, if he ⟨p. 96⟩keep himself unspotted, in the midst of a spotted & polluted people) his care and his conscience is worthy both admiration and imitation, and himself is worthy double honour, as being both a zealous minister and a holy man.
Why then should they so much condemne them, for such faults, as wherein themselues haue made them faultie? I say not, but our Church and state, and Ministerie, are to censure such men, (and it were good they did it more) but it is against all reason the people should do so, wheras themselues are the cause of it: For alas, if this holy Prophet was a man of polluted lippes, because hee dwelt with a people of polluted lippes: what maruell then, though ordinary Ministers be polluted with the common and vniuersall pollutions of their people: People therefore, are first of all to see that themselues bee well ordered and godly, and then iustly may they complaine, if the liues of their Ministers be not agreeable: but otherwise, it is not possible without very special grace of God, but that a minister shalbe more or lesse touched Wt those crimes which are the cōmon faults of his people. And lamentable experience daily lets vs see,