A73023:313
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.
Thirdly, the people may here learn; 1First, in that Gods presence is so glorious and fearful to mans nature, how mercifully God hath dealt with them, in teaching them not by himself, or by his Angels from heaven, which they could never endure; but by men, who are like themselves: and how vain and fond these men are, who would be taught from heaven, & not by men, who are so ⟨p. 115⟩full of wants. In the old Testament, when the people received the law from 2Gods own mouth, it is said, they ran away, and cried out, Why should we die? if we hear the voice of God any more we shall dye: for what flesh ever heard the voice of the living God & lived therefore they said to Moses: Go thou near and hear, all that the Lord shall say, & declare thou unto us▪ what God saith to thee, & we will hear it, & do it. And then saith the text, the Lord said I heard the words of this people, they have said well in all that they have spoken. And so, from that day forward, God ordinarily taught his church by men like themselves: & we see, that the beginning of it was not in judgement, but in mercy unto them. It is therefore the duty of all men, both to acknowledge this mercy of God, in due thankfulness, and withal to remember, when they see infirmities in Ministers, that they are but men, and that if they had not the Ministry of men, how hard it would, go with them: considering, that the least measure of Gods ⟨p. 116⟩own presence, cannot be endured by any man.
Thirdly, the people may here learne; 1First, in that Gods presence is so glorious and fearefull to mans nature, how mercifully God hath delt with them, in teaching them not by himself, or by his Angels from heauē, which they could neuer endure; but by men, who are like themselues: and how vaine and fond these men are, who would bee taught from heauen, & not by men, who are so ⟨p. 115⟩