A73023:92
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.
If any man make doubt of this, and therefore think I speak too hardly of our Church: I will then deal plainly, and particularly, and rip up the sores of our nation, that so they may be healed to the bottom.
If any man make doubt of this, and therefore thinke I speake too hardly of our Church: I will then deale plainly, and particularly, and rip vp the sores of our nation, that so they may bee healed to the bottome.
The common sins of England, wherewith the Lord is requited, are these. First, ignorance of Gods will and worship, (I speak not of that compelled ignorance, in many corners of our Land, which is to be pitied because they want the means) but wilful, and affected ignorance. Men are ignorant, even because, they will be ignorant. Means of knowledge were never so plentiful, and yet never more gross ignorance: is not he wilfully blind, who will not open his eyes in the Light? and can there be any darkness ⟨p. 59⟩at Noon day, but it must be wilful? but our Nation is dark and blind in the Sunshine of the Gospel: and grossly ignorant, when the Gospel beats their ears, and light shines round about them; so, as if they closed not their eyes, and stopped not their ears, they could not, but both hear & see; who would look for ignorance after 35 years preaching? & yet, many are as ignorant, as if they had bin borne & brought up under Popery: so that our people are as evil as those in the days of Christ, of whom the holy ghost saith Light is come into the world; but men love 1darkness more then light: so knowledge is come into England: but many Englishmen love ignorance better then knowledge. Alas, how many thousands have we in our Church, who know no more in religion, then they hear in common talk of all men, & which is worse, they think it sufficient also, and which is worst of all, whereas they might have more, they will not, but care not for it.
The common sins of England, wherwith the Lord is requited, are these. First, ignorance of Gods will and worship, (I speake not of that compelled ignorance, in many corners of our Land, which is to bee pittied because they want the meanes) but wilfull, and affected ignorance. Men are ignorant, euen because, they will bee ignorant. Meanes of knowledge were neuer so plentifull, and yet neuer more grosse ignorance: is not hee wilfully blinde, who will not open his eyes in the Light? and can there bee any darknesse