A73023:106
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.
This Doctrine hath special use to this our Church, to teach us to look to our selves betimes, and try our own ways, and turn to the Lord, for we cannot tell how far of his judgments are: in reason they must needs be near, they have been so long deferred, and yet been so justly deserved of us. Certainly God hath long been in conceiving judgements and plagues for the sins of England, and often hath Gods hand been upon us by war▪ famine, pestilence, inundations: and yet it hath been pulled back again: and his sword hath been put up into his sheath, and God hath stayed his birth even in the very travel, and we have escaped, even as a man, whose neck ⟨p. 74⟩hath been upon the block, and the Axe holden up to strike: so then, yet the day is not come, yet we have time: happy we that ever we saw this day, if now we have grace to repent, and search our hearts, for then we shall stay this Judgement decreed, that it shall never come forth against us: but if we defer to repent, & put off from day to day, and lye rotting still in our sins: then know and be assured that as the Decree is established, so it must needs come forth: and then, when judgement is come forth, & the stroke stricken, Repentance is too late: therefore what he said to the Jews, I say unto us, Search thy self, O England, (a Nation not worthy to be beloved) before the Decree come forth, which is already past against thee.
This Doctrine hath speciall vse to this our Church, to teach vs to looke to our selues betimes, and try our owne wayes, and turne to the Lord, for wee cannot tell how farre of his iudgments are: in reason they must needs be near, they haue beene so long deferred, and yet beene so iustly deserued of vs. Certainly God hath long beene in conceiuing iudgements and plagues for the sinnes of England, and often hath Gods hand beene vpō vs by warre▪ famine, pestilence, inundations: and yet it hath been puld backe againe: and his sword hath beene put vp into his sheath, and God hath stayed his birth euen in the very trauell, and we haue escaped, euen as a man, whose necke ⟨p. 74⟩hath beene vpon the blocke, and the Axe holden vp to strike: so then, yet the day is not come, yet we haue time: happie wee that euer wee saw this day, if now wee haue grace to repent, and search our hearts, for then wee shall stay this Iudgement decreed, that it shall neuer come forrth against vs: but if we deferre to repent, & put off from day to day, and lye rotting still in our sinnes: then know and be assured that as the Decree is established, so it must needes come foorth: and then, when iudgement is come forth, & the stroke stricken, Repentance is too late: therefore what he said to the Iewes, I say vnto vs, Search thy selfe, O England, (a Nation not worthy to be beloued) before the Decree come forth, which is already past against thee.