A73023:401
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.
Lastly, here the Romish Clergy are justly to be taxed, whose number is infinite: but it is lamentable to see how few among them be such as the Lord here seeketh for. Their Orders ⟨p. 159⟩of Regulars are exceeding many, beside all their Secular Priests, and it is almost incredible, how many thousands there be of Dominicans or Franciscans, or in some one of their orders: and yet amongst the many millions of their Monks, there is scarce to be found one of many, who for his learning & other gifts, is fit to be sent to the work of God: nay, their ignorance was palpable and ridiculous to the world, until 1of late being by Luther, and others of our Church, made ashamed thereof, they have laboured (especially the Jesuits) to become learned. How foul a thing is it that amongst so many, the Lord should have cause to complain; Whom shall we send? The Jesuits indeed, 2many of them are learned, but for other qualities, they are fitter to be plotters, & practisers in State matters, Spies or Intelligencers, reconcilers, seducers, and subverters, then Ministers: and fitter to be instruments of policy to evil kings, then Ministers of the Gospel unto God. But take away them, and some ⟨p. 160⟩few selected Monks (and those but few out of many thousands) & then even for learning also God may cry, and call & proclaim in their Monasteries; whom shall I send? And if it be a shame and misery to a Church to want such as God may send, or to have but a few, then the Romish Church is shameless, which shames not to have so many, and yet amongst them all, whom God may send, almost none.
Lastly, heere the Romish Cleargie are iustly to bee taxed, whose number is infinite: but it is lamentable to see howe fewe among them be such as the Lord heere seeketh for. Their Orders ⟨p. 159⟩of Regulars are exceeding many, beside all their Secular Priests, and it is almost incredible, how many thousands there bee of Dominicans or Franciscans, or in some one of their orders: and yet amongst the many millions of their Monkes, there is scarce to bee found one of many, who for his learning & other gifts, is fit to be sent to the worke of God: nay, their ignorance was palpable and ridiculous to the world, vntill