A09417:130
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.
4. The fourth general point in this exhortation, is time limited them, when they should Search. Before ⟨p. 105⟩the Decree come forth, &c. As though the Prophet should say, Israel, repent before God execute his judgements on thee. For behold the gracious dealing of God: Man sinneth, his sins deserve plagues: but God presently plagueth not, but defers it, he puts a time betwixt the sin and the punishment (ordinarily:) this he doeth to show his mercy unto mankind, because that he would not destroy them, if they would amend. Therefore, after the sin, he smites not presently, but puts off his punishment, that in the mean time man may repent. Here the Prophet compares the Lord to a mother, for as she conceives the fruit in her ⟨p. 106⟩womb, and bears it a long time, ere she bring it out: so the Lord after a mans sins, or a peoples sinn•s, conceive (that is) ordains, and decreeth a judgement for it, but he keeps it up, and all that while he bears it: But as she, when her time is come, then travails and brings forth: So, when the time that God hath appointed, is come, and still sin not repented of: then his justice travails to be delivered of that judgement, which mercy hath kept up so long a time. Thus the old world had an hundred and twenty years given them, for time of repentance; all that while God was in conceiving, at last when their sins were ⟨p. 107⟩ripe, and no hope of amendment: then God travelled, and brought forth a fearful birth, namely, the universal flood, to wash away, and take revenge upon the universal iniquities of those times. So many hundred years he gave unto the Jews, long he was in conceiving their destruction, and oftentimes he had it at the bringing forth, as in the captivity of Babylon, and under Antiochus; yet his mercy stayed it: and still he travailed longer: tells them here by the Prophet, that yet the Decree is not come forth (though it be conceived:) but at last when Israel would not Repent, but grew worse, and worse; as in CHRIST ⟨p. 108⟩his time) then he could contain no longer, but travelled indeed, and though it be with grief, yet he hath brought forth: and what? a most fearful birth, even an utter desolation of that Kingdom and Country, of their City, and Temple, and a dispersion of this nation over all the world: