Exposition of Zephaniah 2, To the reader
TO THE CHRIStian Reader, and especially to all such as hauehave any copies of the works of Maister Perkins, or intend any of them to the Presse.
FOr asmuch as there hath beene lately signification made, of diuers of Maister Perkins his workes hereafter to be Printed, in an Epistle to the Reader premised before the Treatise of Callings, and the signification being but generall, might peraduenture giuegive occasion to some, to set out some particulars (without the consent of Maister Perkins his Assignes) as imperfectly as are these two Bookes, intituled, The Reformation of Couetousnesse, and The Practise of Faith, iustly and truely (for ought that I see) censured in the aforesaide Epistle. It is therefore nowe thought good to mention the particular Treatises, and workes of his, which shall hereafter (if God will) bee published, for the benefite of Gods Church: I doe therefore heereby make knowne to all, whome it any way may concerne, that there were found in the Studie of the deceased, and are in the hands of his Executours, or Assignes, and preparing for the Presse.
1. His Expositions on the Epistle to the Galathians.
2. On the Epistle of Iude.
2. His Booke of the Cases of Gonscience.
3. His Treatises, 1. Of Witchcraft. 2. Of Callings.
All these hee had perused himselfe, and made them ready for the Presse, according to which Coppies by himselfe so corrected, some of them alreadie are, and the rest will bee published in due time. And here vponupon wee desire all men who hauehave Coppies of them, not to offer that wrong to that worthy man of God, as to publish any of their owne, seeing the coppies heereof which are to bee Printed, are of his owne correcting: but rather if they can helpe to make any of them more perfect by their Coppies, they may therein dooe a good worke to the benefit of manie, and much comfort to themselues.
And further, I doe heereby make knowne, that I hauehave in my handes at this present of his workes, taken from his mouth, with my owne hand, heereafter (if God will) to bee published, with the allowance of our Church, and for the benefite of his Children, these particulars.
1. His Expositions or Readings on the 101. psalme.
2. On the 32. Psalme.
3. On the 11. chapt. to the Hebrewes.
4. On the 1 2 and 3. Chap. of the Reuelation.
5. On the 5. 6. & 7. chapt. of Saint Matthewe.
2. His confutation of Canisius, his little Popish Catechisme.
3. His Treatises, 1. Of Imaginations, out of Gen. 8. 2.
2. Of temptations, out of Mathew. 4.
3. Of Christian equitie, out of Phillippians, 4. 3.
4. Of the Callings of the Ministery, out of two places of Scripture.
5. Of Repentance, out of Zephaniah. 2. 1.
Besides many other particular Sermons, and short discourses made vponupon seuerall, and speciall occasions: of all which, some are alreadie published by others, and some by my selfe: and all the rest that remaine, as they be the Iewels of Gods Church, so did I willingly dedicate them to the publique and generall good, Iudging it were a foule sinne in mee, or any other, to impropriate to our sinnes, or our owne priuate vse, the labours of This, or any other learned man, which are in my opinion; partes of the Treasurie of the militant Church: And as it were wrong to the Church, if I should conceale them, so doubtlesse were it to him and his children, if I should publish them for mine owne alone, and not for their benefite. If I doe, I thinke it may bee iustly saide vntounto mee, or whosoeuer doeth so, Thy money perish with thee. And what herein I hauehave saide for my selfe: I knowe I may boldely and safely say, for his Executours or Assignes, which hauehave or had in their handes, anie of those which were found in his Studie: In the publishing of all which, as wee doe intend to deale truely with the Christian Reader, and not to commit anie thing to the Presse, which hath not eyther beene written or corrected, by the Author himselfe, or faithfullie penned according to the truest Coppies, taken from his owne mouth, and since by others of sufficiency and integritie, diligently perused: some purpose to referre them to the benefit of the Authours wife and children, as much as may be, wishing that vponupon this Caueat, men would not bee so hastie (as some hauehave beene) to commend to the world, their vnperfect notes, vponupon a base desire of a little gaine, both to hinder the common good of the Church, and to defraud the said parties of their priuate benefite, to whom in all equitie and conscience, it doth principally appertaine: And desiring all who hauehave any perfect Copies of such as are in my owne hands, that they would either helpe mee with theirs, or rather take mine to helpe them. That by our ioynt power, and our forces laide together: the walles of this worthy building, may goe vp the fayrer, and the faster. And so I commend them all to Gods blessing, who endeuour to commend themselues, and their labours, to God, and to his Church.
Your brother in the Lord, W. C.