A73023:303
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 is the cause, why the labours of ⟨p. 107⟩such men are almost unprofitable: because they dare come into Gods presence in their sins. In many places of our land, there is by Gods blessing much teaching, yet there is little reformation, in the lives of the most: but contrariwise, some fall to Atheism: some to Papism: some into foul sins, not to be named amongst Ghristians.
This is the cause, why the labours of ⟨p. 107⟩such men are almost vnprofitable: because they dare come into Gods presence in their sinnes. In many places of our land, ther is by Gods blessing much teaching, yet there is little reformation, in the liues of the most: but contrariwise, some fal to Atheisme: some to Papisme: some into foule sinnes, not to be named amongst Ghristians.
Where is the cause? surely not in the 1Gospel: nor in our doctrine, nor in the teaching of it; but one very principal cause is, many Ministers come into Gods presence, unsanctified, & in their sins: not caring how loosely they live, in the face of their people: and therefore God in justice, though he instantly smite not them, with visible vengeance for their presumption: yet he smites the 2people, with spiritual blindness, that they regard not their Doctrine, but look at their lives, and do rather follow the profaneness of the one, then the holiness of the other. Ministers are such, in whom God will be sanctified, ⟨p. 108⟩therefore because they do not so, but dishonour him, by coming into his presence in their sins: therefore he cannot abide them, nor give any blessing to their labours.