A09417:60
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.
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 ⟨p. 14⟩God, and love their Neighbour; and that they have ever done so: Nay, it is the common opinion that a man may do so by nature, and that he is not worthy to live, who doth not love God with all his heart: and believe in Jesus Christ. But alas poor simple souls, they never knew what sin was, never searched nor saw into their own hearts, with the light of Gods law, for if they had, they should have seen such a Sea of corruption, that then they would confess it to be the hardest thing in the world, to love God, & to believe in Christ, and forsake sin: it is therefore manifest, that they have not yet begun to Believe or Repent, ⟨p. 15⟩nor have entered into the first step of grace, which leadeth to Repentance, for that they have not learned this Lesson, which the Prophet teacheth: that is, to search themselves.
This doctrine teacheth vs what faith and repentance is generally in the world. All men say, they belieue, and haue repented long ago; but trie it well, and wee shall finde ⟨p. 13⟩in the bodie of our Nation, but a lippe Faith, and a lippe Repentance: for euen when they say so, they are blind and ignorant of their own estate, and knowe not themselues, that because they are baptized and liue in the Church, therefore they are in Gods fauour, & in verie good estate, when as they neuer yet were reconciled to God: and are so farre from it, that they neuer yet sawe anie sinnes in themselues, whereof they should repent: as a man trauelling in the night, seeth no daunger, but plods on without feare: So the most part of our common people, in the night of their ignorance, thinke and presume they loue and feare