A73023:40
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.
Concerning this duty of searching, let us observe first, that the holy Ghost urging the Jews to repent, useth not the word Repentance, but bids them search themselves: yet meaning, he, would have them to repent: giving us to understand, that no man can have true and sound repentance, but he who hath first of all searched and examined himself: and this stands with good reason, for no man can repent, who first of all doth not know himself, and his own wretchedness. But no man can see into himself, nor know himself, but he that doth diligently search himself: so that the beginning of all grace, is for a man to search and try, and fan himself, that thereby he may know what is in himself: that so upon the search, seeing his fearful and damnable estate, he may forsake himself & his own ways and turn to the Lord. Thus speaketh ⟨p. 5⟩the holy Ghost in the hearts of holy men; Let us search and try our ways: and 1make what followeth; and turn again to the Lord: as though there were no turning again to the Lord, but after a searching of our selves. With this testimony of the holy Ghost, agreeth the testimony of all holy mens consciences, who all know, that the first beginning of their turning to the Lord, was a searching of themselves: Let any repentant sinner ask his conscience, and call to mind his first calling and conversion, and he will remember that the first thing in his repentance was this; that he searched into himself, and looked narrowly into his ways, and finding his ways dangerous, and his case fearful, did thereupon resolve to take a new course, and turn to the Lord for pardon and mercy, and for grace to enter into more holy, and more comfortable courses.
Concerning this duty of searching, let vs obserue first, that the holy Ghost vrging the Iewes to repent, vseth not the word Repentance, but bids them search themselues: yet meaning, hee, would haue them to repent: giuing vs to vnderstand, that no man can haue true and sound repentance, but hee who hath first of all searched and examined himselfe: and this stands with good reason, for no man can repent, who first of all doth not know himselfe, and his owne wretchednesse. But no man can see into himselfe, nor knowe himselfe, but hee that doth diligently search himselfe: so that the beginning of all grace, is for a man to search and try, and fanne himselfe, that thereby he may knowe what is in himselfe: that so vpon the search, seeing his fearefull and damnable estate, hee may forsake himselfe & his owne waies and turne to the Lord. Thus speaketh