A09417:62
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.
Here we may learn, that in true Repentance, and conversion, we must not search so only, as to find the ⟨p. 16⟩gross and palpable sins of our lives: but so as we may find those sins which the world accounts lesser sins, and espy our secret faults & privy corruptions. Some corruptions seem more near a kin of our nature, & therein men hope to be excused, when they forsake many other greater sins. But a true penitent sinner must search for such, so as a good Magistrate searcheth for a lurking traitor which is conveyed into some close and secret corner, and he must ransack his heart for such corruptions, as wherein his heart takes special delight, and must think that no sin can be so small, but it is too great to be spared, and that every sin great ⟨p. 17⟩or little, must be searched for, as being all traitors to Gods Majesty.
Heere wee may learne, that in true Repentance, and conuersion, wee must not search so onely, as to find the ⟨p. 16⟩grosse and palpable sinnes of our liues: but so as wee may finde those sinnes which the world accounts lesser sinnes, and espie our secret saults & priuie corruptions. Some corruptiōs seeme more neere a kin of our nature, & therein men hope to bee excused, when they forsake many other greater sinnes. But a true penitent sinner must search for such, so as a good Magistrate searcheth for a lurking traitor which is conueied into some close and secret corner, and he must ransacke his heart for such corruptions, as wherin his heart takes speciall delight, and must thinke that no sinne can be so small, but it is too great to bee spared, and that euery sin great ⟨p. 17⟩or litle, must be searched for, as beeing all traitors to Gods Maiestie.
But alas, the practise of the world is far otherwise, great sins are little sins, little sins are no sins: Nay, after a little custom, great sins are so little or nothing, and so at last men make no bones of gross and grievous sins: and for the most part men search so superficially, that they scarce find any thing to be sins: such excuses are made, such distinctions are devised, such mitigations, such qualifications, such colours are cast upon all sins; as now up & down the world, gross sins are called into question, whether they be sins or no: & the great transgressions