A73023:51
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 in that this duty of searching, is both the beginning of all true grace, and the mean to stay Gods judgements, and therefore is so pithily, and forcibly urged by the holy Ghost, it must teach us all a necessary lesson: namely, to make great conscience of searching our selves. First, because God hath so commanded, and we are to make conscience of obedience to every commandment. Secondly, because thereby we shall reap two so great commodities, as first, thereby we shall lay a sure foundation for the good work of grace in us, and secondly, shall stay the hand of God, and his judgements from being executed upon us. Let us therefore hearken to this counsel of the holy ghost, let us take the fan of the Law, and therewith search and winnow our hearts and lives. Our hearts, ⟨p. 19⟩for secret and hidden corruptions. Our lives, for committing of evil, and omitting of good. Do with your hearts as men do with their wheat: they will not suffer their corn to lie long in the chaff, least the chaff hurt it, but commits it to the fan that the wind may separate them: So the graces of God in our hearts are pure corn, our sins and corruptions are Chaff: look well, and thou shalt find in thy self much chaff, and but little corn: let not then the chaff lye too long mingled with the Corn, lest it corrupt the corn. Let not thy sins lye mingled with the grace of God in thee, if thou do, they will choke it in the end, and so deprive thee of all grace; therefore rip up thy heart, and look into thy life, and when thou hast sinned, enter into thy self, ask thy conscience what thou hast done, & be not quiet till thou hast found out thy sin, and the foulness of it: and never think that thou knowest any thing in Religion, till thou knowest what ⟨p. 20⟩is in thine own heart. And what are thy special and priviest corruptions, and look into thine own faults, not with a partial eye, but with a censorious, and a strait judgement, spare sin in no man, but especially condemn it in thy self.
Now in that this dutie of searching, is both the beginning of all true grace, and the meane to stay Gods iudgements, and therefore is so pithely, and forceably vrged by the holy Ghost, it must teach vs all a necessarie lesson: namely, to make great conscience of searching our selues. First, because God hath so commanded, and we are to make conscience of obedience to euery commandement. Secondly, because therby we shal reape two so great commodities, as first, thereby we shal lay a sure foundatiō for the good work of grace in vs, and secondly, shall stay the hand of God, and his iudgements from being executed vpon vs. Let vs therefore hearken to this counsaile of the holy ghost, let vs take the fan of the Lawe, and therewith search and winnowe our hearts and liues. Our hearts,