A09417:154
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.
Now for the use, for us in England, the case stands thus: Our Church doubtless is Gods corn field, and we are the corn heap of God: and those Brownists and Sectaries are blind and besotted, who cannot see that the Church of England is a godly heap of Gods corn: but withal, we must confess, we are full of chaff: that is, of profane and wicked hypocrites, whose hearts and minds abound in sins and ⟨p. 135⟩rebellions: and many of our best professors are also too full of chaff (that is) of corruptions, and do give themselves too much liberty in many sins: but alas, the pure wheat, how thin is it scattered? how hard to find a man (at least a family) which dedicate themselves to the Lord in holy and sincere obedience, and labour to make conscience of all sins: now therefore, seeing we are Gods corn field, and we have some pure wheat amongst much chaff, therefore God will winnow us to find out the corn, if he have but one corn of wheat in a handful of chaff, but one good man of many, he will stir all the heap for those ⟨p. 136⟩few corners, he will not care to blow all the chaff to hell, to find out those few corns of Wheat, to lay them up in heaven: so that out of all question, England being so full of chaff, must look to be winnowed.
Now for the vse, for vs in England, the case stands thus: Our Church doubtlesse is Gods corne field, and wee are the corne heape of God: and those Brownists and Sectaries are blinde and besotted, who cannot see that the Church of England is a godly heape of Gods corne: but withall, we must confesse, we are full of chaffe: that is, of prophane and wicked hypocrites, whose hearts and mindes abound in sinnes and ⟨p. 135⟩rebellions: and many of our best professours are also too full of chaffe (that is) of corruptions, and do giue themselues too much libertie in many sinnes: but alas, the pure wheate, how thinne is it scattered? how hard to find a man (at least a family) which dedicate themselues to the Lord in holy and sincere obedience, and labour to make conscience of all sinnes: now therefore, seeing wee are Gods corne field, and wee haue some pure wheate amongst much chaffe, therefore God will winnow vs to find out the corne, if he haue but one corne of wheate in a handfull of chaffe, but one good man of many, hee will stirre all the heape for those