A73023:101
M. Perkins, his Exhortation to repentance, out of Zephaniah preached in 2. sermons in…
M. Perkins, his Exhortation to repentance, out of Zephaniah preached in 2. sermons in Stourbridge Fair. Together with two treatises of the duties and dignity of the ministry: delivered publicly in the University of Cambridge. With a preface prefixed touching the publishing of all such works of his as are to be expected: with a catalogue of all the particulars [sic] of them, diligently perused and published, by a preacher of the word.M. Perkins, his Exhortation to repentance, out of Zephaniah preached in 2. sermons in Sturbridge Faire. Together with two treatises of the duties and dignitie of the ministrie: deliuered publiquely in the Vniuersitie of Cambridge. With a preface præfixed touching the publishing of all such workes of his as are to be expected: with a catalogue of all the perticulers [sic] of them, diligently perused and published, by a preacher of the word.
London: printed by T. Creede for William Welby, 1605
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 then, are we so? and shall we continue so still? Nay, that is the worst, and most wretched of all: then let every one of us learn this duty, enter into our selves, Search our hearts and lives, that they may lye open to our own sight, to the confusion of us in our selves, that in God by repentance we may be raised up.
Now then, are we so? and shall wee continue so still? Nay, that is the worst, and most wretched of all: then let euery one of vs learne this duty, enter into our selues, Search our hearts and liues, that they may lye open to our owne sight, to the confusion of vs in our selues, that in God by repentance wee may bee raised vp.
Our sins lye open before the face of God, and stink in his presence, and and cry for vengeance: and before the face of Gods Angels, who bewail it, and before the face of the Devil, who rejoiceth in our confusions: and shall they lye hid only to our selves? Now then, if we would have them hid from God, and stop the cry, that they make against us, and keep them ⟨p. 68⟩from Satan, who accuseth us for them: we must so Search our selves, that they may lye open to our own hearts: remember thou thy sins, and God will forget them: lay them open before thy own face, and God will hide them from his: write them up for thy own self, and God will blot them out of his remembrance: but if contrariwise, thou hidest them: then assure thy self, the more thou hidest, and buriest them, the more open do they lye in the face of GOD: and then what will follow, but that they will all be disclosed at the last day, to thy eternal confusion. Therefore again, and again, I exhort you in the name of GOD, Search your selves, find out your sins, confess them to GOD, freely, and ingeniously; confess their desert to be Hell and damnation, humble your hearts to God, cry and call for pardon, as for life and death, purpose and promise to leave them, begin a new course of life, believe steadfastly, and doubt not ⟨p. 69⟩of pardon and forgiveness in the blood of Christ, continue in that faith, and that new course of life: So may England prevent Gods judgements, and quench that great action of unkindness, which God hath against them, and become a Nation as worthy (upon their faith and repentance) in Christ to be beloved: as for their peace and prosperity, they have been of all nations of the earth admired.