A09417:155
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 first Fan of his word, it hath been used in this land these five and thirty years, and that as powerfully, and as plentifully as any where in the world, and yet (alas) many are more godless, more ignorant, more profane then ever they were, yea, wickedness groweth, and the chaff increaseth above the wheat: be sure therefore, that God will bring his second fan upon us; because we will not suffer ⟨p. 137⟩the first, and mild and gentle fan of his word to try and search us: therefore we will bring the fearful fan of his judgements, and with it, he will blow soul and body into hell, with those our sins and corruptions, which we would not suffer the fan of Gods word to blow from us. The first hath so long blown in vain, that the second must needs come unto us, and it hath already begun to blow: three or four blasts have blown over us; famine, pestilence, earth-quakes, fire, water, wind, these have so blown some of us, that they have taken away a great number of us For us that remain,1 this only remains, that we strengthen our selves by ⟨p. 138⟩grace, to be able to stand against the next blast, for come it will, and when it comes no wealth nor worldly thing can enable us to endure it, only faith and repentance, and the grace of God will stand at that day. Now therefore, in that so fearful a fanning abideth us: seeing it is so near (as appeareth by the blasts already past over us, which are nothing but the forerunners of a greater tempest) what should be our care (except we care not to be blown body and soul into hell) but to labour to eschew this fearful fan of Gods wrath: or at least, if it come upon us, that it may not blow us to hell, but hasten us to heaven. If thy heart be touched ⟨p. 139⟩to ask how this may be. I answer thee, only to follow the Prophets advice in this place, by searching and trying our selves. The way to escape Gods trial, is to try thy self: & to escape Gods judgment, to be a judge to thine own soul: and so the way to escape the fearful fan of God, is to fan their own heart by the law of God. For whomsoever the first fan (that is, the word of God) doth work upon: these men are never blown away with the fan of Gods judgements.