A73023:298
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 Gods presence hath divers degrees. First, God is present to our conscience, 1when we think of him. 2. He is present, when we name him, or hear ⟨p. 100⟩him named or mentioned by others, and these are the furthest off: Thirdly, God is nearer unto us in the presence of his Ordinances, as his Word and 2Sacraments, and public service in the Congregation: Fourthly, there is a 3most apparent and sensible presence of God, which shall be at the last Judgement, when all men shall stand before him in his immediate presence, to receive their judgement. Now all these presences of God, are hateful to a wicked 4man: for the first, a wicked man by his good will never thinks of God, and if sometime a thought of God (like lightning) flashes in his mind, presently he 5quencheth it, as being a most unwelcome and burdensome thought unto him: therefore saith David; The wicked is so proud, he careth not for God: neither 6is God in all his thoughts: Nay, God himself is so little thought on, by them, that they will willingly think of nothing, that might bring GOD into their thoughts: as namely, Gods great works of his wonderful Judgements: ⟨p. 101⟩of whom the same prophet saith, in the same place, Thy Judgements are far above, out of his sight. As if he had said, 7he labours to set them far from the eye of his mind, that he may never have occasion to think of them, nor on God by them. That this is true for his thoughts', I have endeavoured thus to prove, by Gods own testimonies, because thoughts cannot be discerned by 8