Lydia might be prepared before she heard Paul, for shek accompanied them which went out to pray, and she worshipped God: or else her heart might be then touched when she heard Paul preach. The like may be said ofl those which heard Peter when he preached to Cornelius, and of others. Certain it is that a man must both see and feel his wretchedness, and be wounded in soul for it, before Faith can be wrought in him. Yet I deny not but there may be great difference in the manner & measure of grieving. Somem draw water, and pour it out before the Lord: nTheir heart poureth out abundance of tears.o Other tremble and quake again with horror. Other long continue in their grief. Other are so deeply wounded within, that they cannot express it by outward tears, but are even astonished, as with a wound that bleedeth inwardly. Other see in what a wretched and cursed estate they lie, and are grieved, and even confounded that they can grieve no more: yet it pleaseth God after he hath showed to some their woeful estate through sin, and touched their heart therewith, (bringing them thereby to loath their own natural estate, to despair in themselves, and to condemn themselves, utterly renouncing all confidence in themselves) presently to stir up their hearts to desire and embrace the sweet promises and consolations of the Gospel.
Lydia might bee prepared before shee heard Paul, for sheek accompanied them which went out to pray, and shee worshipped God: or else her heart might bee then touched when shee heard Paul preach. The like may be said ofl those which heard Peter when hee preached to Cornelius, and of others. Certaine it is that a man must both see and feele his wretchednesse, and bee wounded in soule for it, before Faith can be wrought in him. Yet I denie not but there may bee great difference in the manner & measure of greeuing. Somem draw water, and poure it out before the Lord: nTheir heart poureth out abundance of teares.o Other tremble and quake againe with horror. Other long continue in their griefe. Other are so deepely wounded within, that they cannot expresse it by outward tears, but are euen astonished, as with a wound that bleedeth inwardly. Other see in what a wretched and cursed estate they lie, and are greeued, and euen confounded that they can greeue no more: yet it pleaseth God after hee hath shewed to some their woefull estate thorow sinne, and touched their heart therewith, (bringing them thereby to loath their owne naturall estate, to despaire in themselues, and to condemne themselues, vtterly renouncing all confidence in themselues) presently to stirre vp their hearts to desire and embrace the sweete promises and consolations of the Gospell.
- kActs 16. 13, 14.
- lActs 10 44. 45.
- m1 Sam. 7. 6,
- nLuke 7. 38.
- oActs 16. 29
