A09417:63
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.
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 ⟨p. 18⟩of the Law are counted small matters, necessary evils, or inconveniences, tolerated to avoid other evils: and what is he counted, but a curious and precise fool, which stands upon them: Ignorance after five and thirty years preaching, is counted no sin, blind devotion in Gods service, no sin, lip labour in praying, vain and customable swearing, mocking of religion, and the professors thereof, no sin: profaning of the Sabaoth, contemning of preachers, abusing of parents no sin: pride in apparel, superfluity in meats, beastly & ordinary drunkenness, fornication, no sins. Nay, deceits, cozenages, oppressing, usury, notorious ⟨p. 19⟩bribery, and covetousness, that mother sin; these are counted no sins: these beams are made but moats by profane men, & they are so minced and carved, or there is some such necessity of them, or some such other flourish or varnish must be cast upon them, as that they are little or none at all. Alas, alas, is not that a simple and a silly search where such blocks as these are, lye unespied? what are moll-hills, when such mountains are not seen? Moats will be little regarded, where such beams are not discerned: but it is clear, that therefore there is no true trial, nor diligent search made: for a true convert will search his hart for all, and ⟨p. 20⟩will spare none: He deals in searching his own heart, as a good Justice of peace in searching for Traitors or Seminary Priests. He seeks not superficially, but most exactly, & leaveth never a corner unsought, and he thinks great sins to be infinite, and little sins great, and judgeth no sin so small, but that it deserveth the anger of God, and therefore he wonders at the mercy of God, which throws us not all down to hell in a moment: