A73023:46
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.
But alas, the practise •• the world is far otherwise, great sins are little sins, little sins are no sins: Nay, after a little custom, great sins are also little or nothing, and so at last men make no bones of gross and grievous ⟨p. 12⟩sins: and for the most part men search so superficially, that they scarce find any thing to be sin: such excuses are made, such distinctions are devised, such mitigations, such qualifications, such colours are cast upon all sins; as now up and down the world, gross sins are called into question, whether they be sins or no: and the great transgressions of the law are counted small matters, necessary evils or inconveniences, tolerated to avoid other evils: and what is he counted but a curious and a precise fool, which stands upon them: Ignorance after five and thirty years preaching is counted no sin, blind devotion in Gods service no sin, lip labour in praying, vain and customable swearing, mocking of religion, and the professors thereof, no sin: profaning of the Sabbath, contemning of preachers, abusing of parents▪ no sins pride in apparel, superfluity in meats, beastly and ordinary drunkenness, fornication, no sins. Nay, deceits, Cozenages, oppressing usury, ⟨p. 13⟩notorious bribery, and covetousness, that mother sin; these are counted no sins: these beams are made but moats by profane men, & they are so minced and carved, or there is some such necessity of them, or some such other flourish or varnish must be cast upon them, as that they are little or none at all. Alas, alas, is not that a simple & a silly search where such blocks as these are, lye unspied? what are molehills, when such mountains are not seen? Moats will be little regarded, where such beams are not discerned: but it is clear, that therefore there is no true trial nor diligent search made: for a true convert will search his heart for all, and will spare none: He deals in searching his own heart, as a good Justice of peace in searching for traitors or Seminary Priests. He seeks not superficially, but most exactly, and leaveth never a corner unsought, and he thinks great sins to be infinite, and little sins great, and judgeth no sin so small, but that it deserveth the […] ⟨p. 12⟩[…] ⟨p. 13⟩