A73023:62
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.
Nay, I yet add further, the nature of men, and of all men is so corrupt, since Adam: that even the seed of the sin against the holy Ghost, and a proneness to it, is in the nature of every man (though not one man amongst many thousands do commit ⟨p. 31⟩that sin,) for seeing in that sin, there is a heap or Sea of all sins gathered together, he therefore that hath in his nature the seed of all sins, hath also the seed of it. And again, seeing all evil tends to a perfection, as well as grace doth; what reason therefore is there, but we may safely think that the Devil would hale every one to that height of sin: if it were not that the powerful hand of God prevented him, who will neither suffer wicked men, nor the Devil himself to be so wicked as they could, and would be.
Nay, I yet adde further, the nature of men, and of all men is so corrupt, since Adam: that euen the seede of the sinne against the holy Ghost, and a pronenesse to it, is in the nature of euery man (though not one man amongst many thousandes doe commit ⟨p. 31⟩that sinne,) for seeing in that sinne, there is a heape or Sea of all sinnes gathered together, hee therefore that hath in his nature the seede of all sinnes, hath also the seede of it. And againe, seeing all euill tendes to a perfection, as well as grace doth; what reason therefore is there, but wee may safely thinke that the Diuell would hale euery one to that height of sinne: if it were not that the powerfull hand of God preuented him, who will neither suffer wicked men, nor the Diuell himselfe to bee so wicked as they could, and would be.
The use of this second rule, is notable. For in this searching of our selves, it showeth us what we are, without all colours or deceit, and fully discovers unto us, the ugliness of our natures: and it may teach us all how 1to think and esteem of our selves, when we hear of Cain's unnatural murder, Pharaohs unnatural cruelty, the Sodomites unnatural lust, Achitophel's, devilish policy, Sennacherib's horrible blasphemy, […]