A73023:395
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.
First, hereby he would give us to understand, how hard a thing it is, to find an able and godly Minister, for if 1there were not a great scarcity of such men, the Lord needed not ask this question. But some will object against this, that there are in many Christian 2Churches so many Ministers, as they cannot all be maintained, but some go up and down undisposed, and unprovided for. I answer, this is too true in all ages: there were Wandering 3Levites in the Old Testament, which went up and down and offered their service, and served for 10. shekels of silver, and a suit of apparel, and meat and drink: but this calamity was upon the 4Church of the Jews, (never but then,) when there was no King in Israel, and every one did that which was good in his own eyes. If therefore there be any in our ⟨p. 155⟩Church, and in christian nations, which go up and down, and offer their service at such rates, it is much more miserable, 5seeing now there are kings in Israel: and therefore it is no reason that every man rob the Church, as it shall please his covetous mind. But ceasing to enquire whether this be so or no: and if it be so, leaving the reformation thereof to those Churches and States 6whom it may concern: I answer, for the matter in hand, that this may be so, and yet the Lord may complain as here he doth; Whom shall I send? for the Lord meaneth not such as bear the name of Levites or Priests in the old, or of Ministers in the new Testament (for there were always inow of them: who, some for preferment sake, some for their ease, and some for a refuge how to live; are willing to enter that function, and accordingly in that calling, see not the Lord, but themselves, and their own ends).
First, hereby he would giue vs to vnderstand, how hard a thing it is, to finde an able and godly Minister, for if