A73023:61
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.
And if God did not thus moderate & restrain the natures of men, but suffer them to break out to the full: there would then be no order, but all confusion in the world: therefore, (as especially for his Churches quietness, so also for the preservation of public peace, and the upholding of society in the world between man and man) the Lord holds a hand over every mans nature, and keeps every one in a certain compass limited by the wisdom ⟨p. 30⟩of his power, which restraining hand of his, if the Lord should take away: all societies and common wealths would be turned upside down, because every man by the universal corruption of his nature, would break out into every sin: I end this point with appealing to the testimony of the consciences of all men, and especially of the best and holiest men, of whom I would ask this question, whether they find not in their natures an inclination, even to the foulest sins in the world; if shame, or fear, or else the grace of God restrained them not? so that the best men do know well enough, what ado they have with their corrupt natures, to keep them within the compass of Obedience.
And if God did not thus moderate & restraine the natures of men, but suffer them to breake out to the full: there would then be no order, but all confusion in the world: therefore, (as especially for his Churches quietnesse, so also for the preseruatiō of publike peace, and the vpholding of societie in the world betweene man and man) the Lord holdes a hand ouer euery mans nature, and keepes euery one in a certaine compasse limitted by the wisdom ⟨p. 30⟩of his power, which restraining hand of his, if the Lord should take away: all societies and common wealths would be turned vpside downe, because euery man by the vniuersall corruption of his nature, would breake out into euery sinne: I ende this point with appealing to the testimonie of the consciences of all men, and especially of the best and holiest men, of whom I would aske this question, whether they find not in their natures an inclination, euen to the foulest sinnes in the world; if shame, or feare, or else the grace of God restrained them not? so that the best men doe knowe well enough, what adoe they haue with their corrupt natures, to keepe them within the compasse of Obedience.