and build nothing up againe. Whereas Master Perkins so cunningly interweaved terrours and counsels in his Ser∣mons, that as a changable taffaty, where the wooffe and the warpe are of severall colours, appeare now of one colour, now of another, according to the different stand∣ing of the beholders; so one and the same Sermon of hi••, seemed all Law, and all Gospell, all cordials and all cor∣rasivts, as the different necissities of people apprehended it.
8. Amongst those his many vertues worthy our imitation, his humility was eminent, in condescending to the capacity of his meanest Auditors: He had well read Saint Paul, who calleth the people understanding him, mine understanding; in wch sence he may be said to be the most intelligent Preacher, who preacheth plainest to others apprehention: And Mini∣sters being turned Gods interpreters, it is ill whē their langvage is so high and hard, that these Interpreters need others to in∣terpret them to their Congregations. But this may be said of Master Perkins, that as Physitians order Infusions to be made, by steeping ingredients in them, and taking them out againe, so that all their strength and vertue remaines, yet none of the Bulke or Masse is visible therein; he in like manner did distill, & soake much deep Scholarship into his Preaching, yet so insensibly as nothing but familiar expres∣sions did appe••r••. In a word, his Church consisting of the University and Town, the Scholar could heare no lear∣neder, the Townsmen plainer Sermons.
9. He used alwayes before his Sermons, (as to this day is attested by many surviving witnesses) a set form of prayer, not that out of poverty he wanted variety and exchange of phrase••, or that out of niggarliness he begrudged his Audi∣tors the use of them, but out of holy and heavenly Thri••t, he found this the most profitable way for his people. He would not that his soul should goe to Heaven alone, but in his prayers would have the company of the meanest of his Congregation along with him, and therefore alwayes used the same forme that others might keepe pace with him in his devotions.