A09417:120
A faithful and plain exposition upon the 2. chapter of Zephaniah by that reverend…A faithfull and plaine exposition vpon the 2. chapter of Zephaniah by that reuerend…
A faithful and plain exposition upon the 2. chapter of Zephaniah by that reverend and judicious divine, M.W. Perkins. Containing a powerful exhortation to repentance: as also the manner how men in repentance are to search themselves. Published by a preacher of the word. With a preface prefixed, touching the publishing of M. Perkins his works. And a catalogue of all such particulars thereof, as are to be expected.A faithfull and plaine exposition vpon the 2. chapter of Zephaniah by that reuerend and iudicious diuine, M.W. Perkins. Containing a powerful exhortation to repentance: as also the manner hovve men in repentance are to search themselues. Published by a preacher of the vvord. With a preface prefixed, touching the publishing of M. Perkins his vvorks. And a catalogue of all such particulars thereof, as are to be expected.
London: printed by T. Creed for William Welby, 1609
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.
This sin was never amongst the Jews: they indeed regarded it not so as it deserved, but who did ever make a mock and a scorn of it but England? O England, how canst thou answer this? God sends thee the most precious jewel, that he can send to a Nation; and thou scornest it, & them that bring it, and them that receive it; even as though it were no blessing, but a curse: so that as Christ saith to the Jews,1 For which of my good works do you stone me? So may the Lord say to England, I have given thee a fruitful land, a blessed Prince, gold and silver, peace and liberty, plenty and prosperity: for which of these (O England) ⟨p. 94⟩doest thou contemn my religion? The least of these deserve love; but England hath a better then all these; that is, his Gospel, the word of salvation: and yet, that all is contemned (as being nothing worth) and those which confess it, and those that bring it, and consequently, God himself that give it. If England had no more sins but this: this deserves, that it should be said of us, that we are a Nation not worthy to be beloved above all Nations: for some Nations would have religion, that they might love it, but they cannot have it: some have it, and love it not: but in no Nation is it made a mocking-stock, but in ⟨p. 95⟩England. And where are those men, but in England, who (like the dog in the manger) will neither entertain religion themselves, nor suffer them that would: let us in time take heed of this sin, as a sin that crieth to God, to revenge so vile a dishonour done to his Majesty: neither is there any sin that more certainly foreshows, and more forcibly hastens the removing of the Gospel from us. For high time is it to cease loving, where love procures disdain: And to stay giving, where gifts are scorned.
This sinne was neuer amongst the Iewes: they indeede regarded it not so as it deserued, but who did euer make a mocke and a scorne of it but England? O England, how canst thou answere this? God sendes thee the most precious iewell, that he can sende to a Nation; and thou scornest it, & them that bring it, and them that receiue it; euen as though it were no blessing, but a curse: so that as Christ saith to the Iewes,1