Art of prophesying/Calling of the Ministry - Perkins - VII - Introduction, Chapters 1 (The titles of true ministers), 2 (The scarcity of true ministers)

Required reading
The Art of Prophesying by William Perkins (Available from Amazon or free here) - Commence 'The Calling of the Ministry' by reading the Introduction and Chapters 1 (The titles of true ministers) and 2 (The scarcity of true ministers).

My summary
Today we begin a new tract included in the Puritan paperback edition of Perkins work which is about the calling of the ministry.

In the introduction we are told that we are going to see how the minister may be described in five ways:
(i) by his titles;
(ii) by his rarity;
(iii) by his office;
(iv) by his blessing;
(v) by his commission and authority.

This week we hear about the minister's titles and his rarity.

Firstly, the minister may be described by the titles:
(i) messenger/angel (of God);
(ii) interpreter (of the reconciliation made between God and man).

Secondly Perkins speaks about the scarcity of ministers by giving some reasons for their rarity and some directions to rectify the problem.

What grabbed me
I'm really enjoying this work in comparison to the 'Art of Prophesying'.

I appreciated the encouragement to do something about the scarcity of ministers by trying to increase their number: 'If ministers are few in number, then do all you can to increase their number.  The greater the number, the lighter the burden lying on each individual man.  So, let every minister both in his teaching and his conversation work in such a way that he honours his calling, so that he may attract others to share his love for it.'

As a minister, I have a responsibility to encourage other men to go into the ministry and share the work.

Next week's reading
Read Chapters 3 (The office of true ministers), 4 (The blessing of the work of true ministers) and 5 (The commission and authority of true ministers).

Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.