A09417:59
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.
Then he wondereth at his miserable estate, admireth the mercy of GOD in keeping him from falling into the bottom of hell, wondereth at the presumptuous boldness of his corruption, which so securely plodded on towards destruction, and being ashamed of himself, ⟨p. 12⟩and these his ways, he turns his heart to the God that saved him from these dangers; and sets himself into more holy ways, and more comfortable courses, and confesseth that ignorance made him bold, and blindness made him so presumptuous; but now he seeth the danger, & will by no means go the same way again: & thus the searching and seeing into the foulness of sin, and the danger thereof, is the first beginning of repentance, and the first step into grace.
Then he wondereth at his miserable estate, admireth the mercie of GOD in keeping him from falling into the bottome of hell, wondereth at the presumptuous boldnesse of his corruption, which so securely plodded on towards destruction, and being ashamed of himselfe, ⟨p. 12⟩and these his wayes, he turnes his heart to the God that saued him from these dangers; and sets himselfe into more holie wayes, and more comfortable courses, and confesseth that ignorāce made him bold, and blindnes made him so presumptuous; but nowe he seeth the danger, & will by no meanes goe the same way againe: & thus the searching and seeing into the foulenes of sinne, and the danger therof, is the first beginning of repentance, and the first step into grace.
This doctrine teacheth us what faith and repentance is generally in the world. All men say, they believe, and have repented long ago; but try it well, and we shall find ⟨p. 13⟩in the body of our Nation, but a lip Faith, and a lip Repentance: for even when they say so, they are blind and ignorant of their own estate, and know not themselves, that because they are baptized and live in the Church, therefore they are in Gods favour, & in very good estate, when as they never yet were reconciled to God: and are so far from it, that they never yet saw any sins in themselves, whereof they should repent: as a man travelling in the night, seeth no danger, but plods on without fear: So the most part of our common people, in the night of their ignorance, think and presume they love and fear