A09417:64
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.
and he crieth out with holy Jeremiah: It is the Lords mercy that we are not consumed. Away then with this superficial and hypocritical search, where so many sins are spared and not found out. It is ⟨p. 21⟩Pharisaical, for even so the Pharisee, when he came into the Temple to reckon with God, and to tell what Traitors he had found, that is, what sins upon good search he had espied, he returns his precept, all is well, he hath found never a one, but begins to thank God that he was so good, & so good, and not so ill, and so ill, nor yet like the Publican. The world is full of Pharisees, not only the Popish Church, but even our Church swarms with these superficial searches, who cannot (because they will not,) find any sin to present unto God. Men think in the country, a Church Officer hazards his Oath, if he present all well, and findeth ⟨p. 22⟩no fault in his parish, to present as punishable to the Ordinary: for men think it unpossible, that there should be none in a whole parish: then how doth that man hazard his own soul, who being made overseer & searcher of his heart, finds nothing in it to present to the Lord. For it is no more easy to espy outward and actual transgressions in a whole parish, then it is to find a heap of corruptions in a mans heart, if a man will search into the bottom of it with the light of Gods law. Therefore when the Lord comes and keeps his visitation, what shall become of such a man, but to undergo the strict & severe search of ⟨p. 13⟩the Almighty, because he would not search himself?
and hee crieth out with holy Ieremie: It is the Lords mercie that wee are not consumed. Away then with this superficiall and hypocriticall search, where so many sins are spared and not found out. It is ⟨p. 21⟩Pharisaicall, for euen so the Pharisie, when he came into the Temple to recken with God, and to tell what Traytors hee hadde found, that is, what sins vpon good search he had espied, he returnes his precept, all is well, hee hath found neuer a one, but begins to thank God that he was so good, & so good, and not so ill, and so ill, nor yet like the Publicane. The world is full of Pharisies, not onely the Popish Churche, but euen our Church swarmes with these superficiall searches, who cannot (because they wil not,) finde any sinne to present vnto God. Men thinke in the countrey, a Church Officer hazards his Oath, if he present all well, and findeth