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.
William Perkins 1558–1602London: printed by T. Creed for William Welby, 1609
[42], 143 [i.e. 153], [1] p. · 21k words · STC 19708 · ESTC S105944
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.
And for my self, I spare to rehearse what interest you have in me, and all my labours, it is no more then you worthily deserve, and shall have in me for ever: you are the fairest flowers in this garden, which in this place, I after others have planted for the Lord (or rather God by us): And two principal pearls in that Crown, which I hope for, at the last day from the Lord my God, whose word at my mouth ⟨image 12⟩you have received with much reverence, and with such profit, as if I had the like success of my labours in others, I should then never have cause to say with the Prophet, I have laboured in vain, & spent my strength in vain, but my judgement is with the Lord, and my work with my God.
And for my selfe, I spare to rehearse what interest you haue in me, and all my labours, it is no more then you worthily deserue, and shall haue in me for euer: you are the fairest flowers in this garden, which in this place, I after others haue planted for the Lord (or rather God by vs): And two principall pearls in that Crowne, which I hope for, at the last day from the Lord my God, whose word at my mouth ⟨image 12⟩you haue receiued with much reuerence, and with such profit, as if I had the like successe of my labours in others, I should then neuer haue cause to say with the Prophet, I haue laboured in vaine, & spent my strength in vaine, but my iudgement is with the Lord, and my worke with my God.
And if I knew you not, to be such as take more delight in doing well, then in hearing of it, I would prove at large, what I have spoken of you: yet give me leave to say that, which without open ⟨image 13⟩wrong, I may not conceal, that beside your care, knowledge, and godly zeal to religion, and other duties of the first table to God himself, your charity and piety to the needy distressed Christians, at home and abroad: your merciful dealing with them, who are in your power; your benevolence to learning, and namely to some in the University, do all proclaim to the world those your due praises: which I (well knowing your modesties) do spare once to name: neither would I have said
thus much, were it not for this cold and barren age, wherein we live, that so, when our preaching cannot move, yet your godly examples might stir up. Pardon me therefore I pray you, & think it no wrong to you,
& hold on in that happy course you have begun, be faithful unto the end, the Lord will give you the Crown of life: faithful is he, which hath promised, who will also do it: proceed
⟨image 14⟩
(good Sir) to honour learning in your self and others, and religion especially, which is the principal learning, and proceed both of you, to practise religion in your own persons; and in your family, hold on to shine before your family, and amongst the people, where you dwell, in zeal and holiness: hold on hereby, still to shame popery, to stop your enemies mouths, and to honour that holy religion, which you profess, to gain comfort of good conscience to your selves, & assurance of eternal
⟨image 14⟩
reward: and lastly, to encourage me in those painful duties which lye upon me: for I openly profess that your religious zeal and love of the truth, with many other good helps, are principal encouragements in my ministry, and especial motives unto me, to undertake the charge of publication, of so many of the works of this holy man deceased, as may not in better manner be done by others. But I keep you too long from this holy exhortation following; I therefore send you it, and
⟨image 15⟩
it to you, and from you, to the Church of God: for I dare not make it privately yours and mine, wherein the whole church hath interest, as well as we:
And if I knew you not, to bee such as take more delight in doing well, then in hearing of it, I would prooue at large, what I haue spoken of you: yet giue me leaue to say that, which without open ⟨image 13⟩wrong, I may not conceale, that beside your care, knowledge, and godly zeale to religion, and other duties of the first table to God himselfe, your charitie and pietie to the needie distressed Christians, at home and abroad: your mercifull dealing with them, who are in your power; your beneuolence to learning, and namely to some in the Vniuersitie, do all proclaime to the worlde those your due prayses: which I (well knowing your modesties) doe spare once to name: neither would I haue saide ⟨image 13⟩thus much, were it not for this cold and barren age, wherein we liue, that so, when our preaching cannot moue, yet your godly examples might stirre vp. Pardon me therfore I pray you, & thinke it no wrong to you,1 which is a benefit to Gods Church:2 But goe forward in the strength of the Lord your God,3 & hold on in that happie course you haue begun, be faithfull vnto the ende, the Lord will giue you the Crowne of life: faithfull is hee, which hath promised, who will also doe it: proceede ⟨image 14⟩(good Sir) to honour learning in your selfe and others, and religion especially, which is the principallearning, and proceede both of you, to practise religion in your owne persons; and in your family, hold on to shine before your familie, and amongst the people, where you dwel, in zeale and holines: holde on hereby, still to shame poperie, to stoppe your enemies mouthes, and to honour that holy religion, which you professe, to gaine comfort of good conscience to your selues, & assurance of eternall ⟨image 14⟩reward: and lastly, to encourage mee in those painefull duties which lye vpon mee: for I openly professe that your religious zeale and loue of the truth, with many other good helpes, are principall encouragementes in my ministerie, and especiall motiues vnto mee, to vndertake the charge of publication, of so many of the workes of this holy man deceased, as may not in better manner be done by others. But I keepe you too long from this holy exhortation following; I therefore send you it, and ⟨image 15⟩it to you, and from you, to the Churche of God: for I dare not make it priuately yours and mine, wherein the whole church hath interest, as well as we:
It was Preached in the field, but it is worthy to be admitted into our hearts: I found it in the open field, but upon diligent view, finding it to be Gods corn, and a parcel of his holy and immortal seed, therefore I brought it home, as good corn deserves: And as it is Gods corn, so in you, I desire all holy Christians to lay it up in Gods garners, that is, in ⟨image 15⟩their hearts and souls.
It was Preached in the field, but it is worthy to be admitted into our hearts: I found it in the opē field, but vpon diligent viewe, finding it to bee Gods corne, and a parcell of his holy and immortall seede, therefore I brought it home, as good corne deserues: And as it is Gods corne, so in you, I desire all holy Christians to lay it vp in Gods garners, that is, in ⟨image 15⟩their hearts and soules.
And thus committing this little volume to your reading, the matter to your practise: you and yours, to the blessed favour of that God, whom you serve: and my self and my endeavours, to your hearty love, and holy prayers, I take leave: From my study; August. 7. 1607.
And thus committing this little volume to your reading, the matter to your practise: you and yours, to the blessed fauour of that God, whome you serue: and my selfe and my endeuours, to your hartie loue, and holy prayers, I take leaue: From my studie; August. 7. 1607.
Forasmuch as there hath been lately signification made, of divers of Master Perkins his works hereafter to be Printed, in an Epistle to the Reader premised before the Treatise of Callings, and the signification ⟨image 17⟩being but general, might peradventure give occasion to some, to set out some particulars (without the consent of Master Perkins his Assigns) as imperfectly as are these two Books, entitled, The Reformation of Covetousness, and The Practise of Faith, justly and truly (for ought that I see) censured in the aforesaid Epistle. It is therefore now thought good to mention the particular Treatises, and works of his, which shall hereafter (if God will) be published, for the benefit of Gods Church: I do therefore hereby make known to ⟨image 17⟩all, whom it any way may concern, that there were found in the Study of the deceased, and are in the hands of his Executors, or Assigns, and preparing for the Press.
FOr asmuch as there hath beene lately signification made, of diuers of Maister Perkins his workes hereafter to be Printed, in an Epistle to the Reader premised before the Treatise of Callings, and the signification ⟨image 17⟩being but generall, might peraduenture giue occasion to some, to set out some particulars (without the consent of Maister Perkins his Assignes) as imperfectly as are these two Bookes, intituled, The Reformation of Couetousnesse, and The Practise of Faith, iustly and truely (for ought that I see) censured in the aforesaide Epistle. It is therefore nowe thought good to mention the particular Treatises, and workes of his, which shall hereafter (if God will) bee published, for the benefite of Gods Church: I doe therefore heereby make knowne to ⟨image 17⟩all, whome it any way may concerne, that there were found in the Studie of the deceased, and are in the hands of his Executours, or Assignes, and preparing for the Presse.
All these he had perused himself, and made them ready for the Press, according to which Copies by himself so corrected, some of them already are, ⟨image 18⟩and the rest will be published in due time. And here upon we desire all men who have Copies of them, not to offer that wrong to that worthy man of God, as to publish any of their own, seeing the copies hereof which are to be Printed, are of his own correcting: but rather if they can help to make any of them more perfect by their Copies, they may therein do a good work to the benefit of many, and much comfort to themselves.
All these hee had perused himselfe, and made them ready for the Presse, according to which Coppies by himselfe so corrected, some of them alreadie are, ⟨image 18⟩and the rest will bee published in due time. And here vpon wee desire all men who haue Coppies of them, not to offer that wrong to that worthy man of God, as to publish any of their owne, seeing the coppies heereof which are to bee Printed, are of his owne correcting: but rather if they can helpe to make any of them more perfect by their Coppies, they may therein dooe a good worke to the benefit of manie, and much comfort to themselues.
And further, I do hereby make known, that I have in my hands at this present of his works, taken from his ⟨image 18⟩mouth, with my own hand, hereafter (if God will) to be published, with the allowance of our Church, and for the benefit of his Children, these particulars.
And further, I doe heereby make knowne, that I haue in my handes at this present of his workes, taken from his ⟨image 18⟩mouth, with my owne hand, heereafter (if God will) to bee published, with the allowance of our Church, and for the benefite of his Children, these particulars.
