A Treatise of the Vocations

by William Perkins

In this excellent little volume, Puritan theologian William Perkins systematically explores the topic of Christians in their various callings and occupations. Perkins shows the dignity and value of the various occupations that people in his time found themselves in, and this prods the modern reader to consider what Perkins might say about our jobs today!

William Perkins (1558-1602) was an influential Puritan theologian and preacher at Great St. Andrews in Cambridge from 1584 until his death. He faced disciplinary measures for his support of the non-conformists. In his role at Cambridge, he was able to influence a generation of Puritan leaders. A gifted and popular author, Perkins wrote more than forty books, perhaps most famously A Golden Chain.

96 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 29, 2024

About the author

William Perkins (1558–1602) was an influential English cleric and Cambridge theologian, receiving both a B.A. and M.A. from the university in 1581 and 1584 respectively, and also one of the foremost leaders of the Puritan movement in the Church of England during the Elizabethan era. Although not entirely accepting of the Church of England's ecclesiastical practices, Perkins conformed to many of the policies and procedures imposed by the Elizabethan Settlement. He did remain, however, sympathetic to the non-conformist puritans and even faced disciplinary action for his support.

Perkins was a prolific author who penned over forty works, many of which were published posthumously. In addition to writing, he also served as a fellow at Christ's College and as a lecturer at St Andrew's Church in Cambridge. He was a firm proponent of Reformed theology, particularly the supralapsarian theology of Theodore Beza and John Calvin. In addition, he was a staunch defender of Protestant ideals, specifically the five solae with a particular emphasis on solus Christus and sola Scriptura.