A09417:85
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 will humble thee, and make thee think vilely and basely of thy self, and so consequently bring thee to repentance and true amendment: and the very reason, why men repent not, nor amend their ways, is because they are Pharisees by nature, and think highly of themselves, and of their own natures, and their natural inclinations: this will be a harsh & a strange doctrine to them; ⟨p. 49⟩Oh, they have excellent natures, and they cannot endure such, & such sins, and they thank God, they are not as ill as others: but let all such men know, they must cease magnifying nature, & learn to magnify Gods grace: Let them know, that nature in them, is in the root, as much corrupt, as in the worst man in the world, and every mans heart is a bottomless fountain of all sin; therefore praise not thy nature, but Gods grace and mercy, in giving thee so good a nature; or rather, so well restraining, and rectifying thy nature; & stay not there, but desire of the Lord, that as he hath given thee a better tempered nature, then to other men: so ⟨p. 50⟩also he would bestow on thee his especial and saving grace: and as he hath kept thee from the fearful sins of others (thou being as ill naturally as they) so he would also lead thee into the way of salvation, which else the best nature in the world can never attain unto.
This will humble thee, and make thee thinke vilely and basely of thy selfe, and so consequently bring thee to repentance and true amendement: and the verie reason, why men repent not, nor amend their wayes, is because they are Pharisies by nature, and thinke highly of themselues, and of their owne natures, and their naturall inclinations: this will be a harshe & a strāge doctrine to them; ⟨p. 49⟩Oh, they haue excellent narures, and they canot endure such, & such sinnes, and they thanke God, they are not as ill as others: but let all such men knowe, they must cease magnifying nature, & learne to magnifie Gods grace: Let them knowe, that nature in them, is in the roote, as much corrupt, as in the worst man in the world, and euerie mans heart is a bottomlesse fountaine of all sinne; therefore praise not thy nature, but Gods grace and mercie, in giuing thee so good a nature; or rather, so well restraining, and rectifying thy nature; & stay not there, but desire of the Lord, that as hee hath giuen thee a better tempered nature, then to other men: so