A09417:98
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.
Now we come to the second general point here laid down: that is, whom must we Search? the Prophet answereth: your selves, not other men, but your selves. This search so urged and enforced by the Prophet, must not be of other mens hearts & lives, but of our own: our own are our charge, and not other mens: and therein is the saying true, which else is most false: Every man for himself: for as every soul must be saved by it self, so must it believe, repent, and search it self.
Now wee come to the second generall point here laid downe: that is, whom must wee Search? the Prophet answereth: your selues, not other men, but your selues. This search so vrged and inforced by the Prophet, must not bee of other mens hearts & liues, but of our owne: our owne are our charge, and not other mens: and therein is the saying true, which else is most false: Euery man for himselfe: for as euerie soule must bee saued by it selfe, so must it beleeue, repent, and search it selfe.
The duty therefore here commanded, is for every man that would have his soul to be saved, to search it, and reform it, & leave others to be searched by themselves. Here the holy Ghost meets with the common corruption of this world, (and that is) that men are Eagle eyed, to see into the lives of other men, but to look into their own hearts, and lives, they are blinder then Moles: they can see moats in other mens lives, but discern not beams in their own: whereby it comes to pass, that they stumble and fall foully: for the eyes of most men are set upon others, and not upon themselves: and thereupon it is, that an evil man, seeing other ⟨p. 73⟩men, and not himself: thinks best of himself, and worst of other men: but contrariwise, a good man seeing himself, and not other men, thinks worst of himself, and better of other men: an evil man looks outward, and judgeth other men: but a good man looks homeward and judgeth himself: and in judging, condemns himself, far above other men: and that because by searching into his own heart and ways, he knows that by himself, which he knows not by any man in the world besides.