A73023:53
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.
The want of this, is that, which the Prophet complains of in that place: not as though it were sufficient thus to do, in a mans own conscience: but because it is a good beginning, and a step to further grace. For if a man did seriously thus deal with his conscience after his sin, his conscience would shape him such an answer, and would tell him so roundly, what he had done, that he would take heed, how he did the same again, and look more narrowly, and warily to himself all the days of his life. Seeing therefore it is so necessary a duty, let every one of us endeavour the practise of it, namely, to rip and ransack our hearts, and to search our ways unto the bottom.
The want of this, is that, which the Prophet complaines of in that place: not as though it were sufficient thus to doe, in a mans owne conscience: but because it is a good beginning, and a step to further grace. For if a man did seriously thus deale with his conscience after his sinne, his conscience would shape him such an aunswere, and would tell him so roundly, what hee had done, that hee would take heede, how hee did the same againe, and looke more narrowly, and warily to himselfe all the dayes of his life. Seeing therefore it is so necessarie a dutie, let euery one of vs indeuour the practise of it, namely, to rippe and ransacke our hearts, and to search our wayes vnto the bottome.
Now for your better instruction, and furtherance in the performance hereof: you must know that this Search is to be made by the Law of ⟨p. 22⟩God, for nothing else, but Gods law can help us, & let us see that which we must search for: for if we search by any other means, we may seek & search long enough, ere we find any thing that will be matter of repentance. Ask the devil, he will tell thee all is well, & that thou art in an excellent estate: and God loves thee, and thou art sure of Heaven: this song the devil always sings for the most part till a man comes to die, for then he appears in his colours, but till then, he labours, to sing, and lull all men a sleep in the cradle of security. Ask our own flesh, & our own hearts and natures, and they will answer, and say, that all is well and safe, and that we have believed, and loved and feared God all our days. Ask the world, and men in the world: and they will answer, all is well; and they will say further, that thou art a right good fellow, and art worth twenty of these curious fools that stick upon points, & stand upon circumstances, as swearing and