Selected quad for the lemma: mercy_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
mercy_n	holy_a	lord_n	spare_v	2,096	5	9.7701	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A09417	A faithfull and plaine exposition vpon the 2. chapter of Zephaniah by that reuerend and iudicious diuine, M.W. Perkins. Containing a powerful exhortation to repentance: as also the manner hovve men in repentance are to search themselues. Published by a preacher of the vvord. With a preface prefixed, touching the publishing of M. Perkins his vvorks. And a catalogue of all such particulars thereof, as are to be expected.; M. Perkins, his exhortation to repentance, out of Zephaniah. Selections	Perkins, William, 1558-1602.	1609 (1609)	STC 19708; ESTC S105944	42,578	198

beleeue in Christ and forsake sinne it is therefore manifest that they haue not yet begunne to Beleeue or Repent nor haue entered into the first step of grace which leadeth to Repentance for that they haue not learned this Lesson which the Prophet teacheth that is to search themselues Furthermore let vs in the second place obserue better the signification of the word it signifieth to searche narrowely as a man would doe for a peece of Gold or a precious Iewell which is lost in a great house Or as a man may searche for Golde in a Mine of the earth where is much earth and but very little golde Oare Heere wee may learne that in true Repentance and conuersion wee must not search so onely as to find the grosse and palpable sinnes of our liues but so as wee may finde those sinnes which the world accounts lesser sinnes and espie our secret saults priuie corruptions Some corruptiōs seeme more neere a kin of our nature therein men hope to bee excused when they forsake many other greater sinnes But a true penitent sinner must search for such so as a good Magistrate searcheth for a lurking traitor which is conueied into some close and secret corner and he must ransacke his heart for such corruptions as wherin his heart takes speciall delight and must thinke that no sinne can be so small but it is too great to bee spared and that euery sin great or litle must be searched for as beeing all traitors to Gods Maiestie But alas the practise of the world is far otherwise great sinnes are little sinnes little sinnes are no sinnes Nay after a little custome great sins are so little or nothing and so at last men make no bones of grosse and grieuous sinnes and for the most parte men search so superficiallie that they scarce finde any thing to be sinnes such excuses are made such distinctions are deuised such mittigations such qualifications such colours are cast vpon all sins as now vp downe the world grosse sinnes are called into question whether they bee sins or no the great trangressions of the Law are coūted small matters necessarie euils or inconueniences tollerated to auoyd other euils and what is hee counted but a curious and precise foole which stands vpon them Ignorance after fiue and thirtie yeares preaching is counted no sinne blinde deuotion in Gods seruice no sinne lippe labour in praying vaine and customable swearing mocking of religion and the professours thereof no sinne prophaning of the Sabbaoth contemning of preachers abusing of parentes no sinne pride in apparell superfluitie in meates beastly ordinarie drunkennes fornication no sinnes Nay deceits cosonages oppressing vsurie notorious briberie and couetousnesse that mother sinne these are counted no sinnes these beames are made but moates by prophane men they are so minced and carued or there is some such necessitie of them or some such other flourish or varnish must bee cast vpon them as that they are little or none at all Alas alas is not that a simple and a silly searche where such blockes as these are lye vnespyed what are moul-hilles when such mountains are not seene Moates wil be little regarded where such beames are not discerned but it is cleere that therefore there is no true tryall nor diligent search made for a true cōuert wil search his hart for all and will spare none He deales in searching his own heart as a good Iustice of peace in searching for Traitors or Seminarie Priests Hee seekes not superficially but most exactly leaueth neuer a corner vnsought and he thinkes great sinnes to be infinit and little sinnes great and iudgeth no sin so small but that it deserueth the anger of God and therefore he wonders at the mercy of God which throwes vs not all downe to hell in a moment and hee crieth out with holy Ieremie It is the Lords mercie that wee are not consumed Away then with this superficiall and hypocriticall search where so many sins are spared and not found out It is Pharisaicall for euen so the Pharisie when he came into the Temple to recken with God and to tell what Traytors hee hadde found that is what sins vpon good search he had espied he returnes his precept all is well hee hath found neuer a one but begins to thank God that he was so good so good and not so ill and so ill nor yet like the Publicane The world is full of Pharisies not onely the Popish Churche but euen our Church swarmes with these superficiall searches who cannot because they wil not finde any sinne to present vnto God Men thinke in the countrey a Church Officer hazards his Oath if he present all well and findeth no faulte in his parish to present as punishable to the Ordinary for men think it vnpossible that there should bee none in a whole parish then how doth that man hazard his owne soule who being made ouerseer searcher of his heart findes nothing in it to present to the Lord. For it is no more easie to espye outward and actuall transgressions in a whole parish then it is to find a heape of corruptions in a mans heart if a man will search into the bottome of it with the light of Gods lawe Therefore when the Lord comes and keepes his visitation what shall become of such a man but to vndergoe the strict seuere search of the Almightie because hee would not search himselfe Our bodies liues are free frō Spanish Inquisition which is one of the last proppes which Sathan hath lent the Pope wherewith to vpholde his declining kingdome and the Lord grant we may be euer free from it But in the meane time that might put vs in mind how to deale with our corrupt heartes and vnmortified affections euen to erect an Inquisition ouer them to lay in wayte for them to search them narrowly and to vse them roughly yea to set our hearts vpon the racke of Gods Lawe that so it may confesse the secrete wickednesse of it for the Papistes dooe not thincke vs Protestants greater enemies to their superstition then the inwarde corruptions of our hearts are to our saluation therefore it may bee a godly pollicie for euery man euen to erect an Inquisitiō ouer his owne heart and conscience and not to spare his most secret dearest sins and such as are neerest allyed to his owne nature for that is the true search heere commaunded by the Prophet practised by all godlie and holie men when a man purposeth to finde all that are to espie euen all his sinnes for a godly man is neuer satisfied in his searche but still the more he findes hee suspects the more are still behinde and therefore he continueth ing his owne heart all his life long Therefore let euerie professor looke to it betwixt God and his conscience that he dallie not with himselfe in this case for it hee doe then when God comes with his priuie searche his