A73023:110
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.
1 First, the Gospel hath been preached these five and thirty years, and is daily more and more, so that, the light thereof never shone more gloriously, since the Primitive Church: yet for all this, there is a general ignorance, general of all people, general of all points, yea, as though there were no preaching at all: yea, when Popery was newly banished, there was more knowledge in many, then is now in the body of our Nation: and the more it is preached, the more ignorant are many, the more blind, and the more hardened (even as a Stithy (the more it is beaten upon, the harder it is) so they, the more they hear the Gospel, the less esteem they it, and the more they contemn it; and the more God calls, the deafer they are: & the more they are commanded, the more they disobey. We Preachers may cry, till our Lunges fly out, or be spent within us, and men are moved no more then stones, O alas, what is this, or what ⟨p. 79⟩can this be: but a fearful sign of destruction? Will any man endure always to be mocked, then how long hath God been mocked? Will any man endure to stand knocking continually? If then God hath stood knocking at our hearts five & thirty years: is it not now time to be gone, unless we open presently?
1 First, the Gospel hath beene preached these fiue and thirtie yeares, and is daily more and more, so that, the light thereof neuer shone more gloriously, since the Primitiue Church: yet for al this, there is a general ignorance, generall of all people, generall of all points, yea, as though there were no preaching at all: yea, when Poperie was newly banished, there was more knowledge in many, then is now in the body of our Nation: and the more it is preached, the more ignorant are many, the more blinde, and the more hardened (euen as a Stithi• (the more it is beaten vpon, the harder it is) so they, the more they heare the Gospell, the lesse esteeme they it, and the more they contemne it; and the more God calles, the deafer they are: & the more they are commanded, the more they disobey. We Preachers may cry, till our Lunges flie out, or bee spent within vs, and men are mooued no more then stones, O alas, what is this, or what ⟨p. 79⟩can this bee: but a fearefull signe of distruction? Will any man endure alwayes to bee mocked, then how long hath God beene mocked? Will any man endure to stand knocking continually? If then God hath stood knocking at our hearts fiue & thirtie yeares: is it not now time to bee gone, vnlesse we open presently?