A73023:104
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.
4 The fourth general point in this exhortation, is the time limited them, when they should Search. Before the Decree come forth &c. As though the Prophet should say. Israel, repent, before God execute his judgements on thee. For behold the gracious dealing of God: Man sinneth, his sins deserve plagues: but GOD presently plagueth not, but defers it, he puts a time betwixt the sin and the punishment (ordinarily:) this he doth to show his ⟨p. 70⟩mercy to mankind, because that he would not destroy them, if they would amend. Therefore, after the sin, he smites not presently, but puts of his punishment, that in the mean time man may Repent. Here the Prophet compares the Lord to a mother; for as she conceives the fruit in her womb, and bears it a long time, ere she bring it out: so the Lord after a mans sins, or a peoples sins, conceive (that is) ordains, and decreeth a judgement for it, but he keeps it up, and all that while he hears it: But as she, when her time is come, then travails and brings forth: so, when the time that God hath appointed, is come, and still sin is not repented of: then his justice travails to be delivered of that judgement, which mercy hath kept up so long a time. Thus the old world had an hundred & twenty years given them for time of repentance; all that while God was in conceiving, at last when there sins were ripe, and no hope of amendment: then GOD travelled, and brought ⟨p. 71⟩forth a fearful birth, namely the universal flood, to wash away, and take revenge upon the universal iniquities of those times. So many hundred years he gave unto the Jews, long he was in conceiving their destruction, and oftentimes he had it at the bringing forth, as in the captivity of Babylon, and under Antiochus; yet his mercy stayed it: and still he travailed longer: tells them here by the Prophet, that yet the Decree is not come forth, (though it be conceived:) but at last when Israel would not Repent, but grew worse, and worse; (as in Christ his time) then he could contain no longer, but travelled indeed, and though it be with grief, yet he hath brought forth: and what? a most fearful birth, even an utter desolation of that kingdom and Country, of their City, and Temple, and a dispersion of their Nation over all the world:
4 The fourth generall point in this exhortation, is the time limitted them, when they should Search. Before the Decree come forth &c. As though the Prophet should say. Israell, repent, before God execute his iudgements on thee. For behold the gratious dealing of God: Man sinneth, his sinnes deserue plagues: but GOD presently plagueth not, but deferres it, he puts a time betwixt the sinne and the punishment (ordinarily:) this he doth to shew his