For the Preface two things are considerable. 1. What we have done. 2. What we will do. We have finished the scope of our endeavour, which was to show how Christs Merits are applied to the Soul, how it stands possessed of grace here and happiness hereafter. Now these two things must be wrought in the Soul, before it can be made partaker of saving grace: 1. A preparation. 2. an Implantation. A preparation there must be,§1 for a sinner naturally as he hath no grace, so he ⟨p. 2⟩is not naturally capable to receive grace. This appears in 2. things: 1. On Gods part, he breaks the cursed Combination betwixt Sin and the Soul, he draws us from sin to himself. 2. Something on our part touching the disposition of our hearts: and that in 2. works. 1. Contrition, 2. Humiliation. Now there was a necessity of these two to be in the Soul, as we then disputed, for these are the two main hinderances §1of our Faith: 1. Security, when the soul being blinded takes rest and sees no need to be better, therefore desires it not, hence natural men think it Curiosity, therefore the Lord sends in this work, and causeth us to know the misery of sin, and pierces our souls with it, and so upon this we desire a change, for else it sees it must be §2condemned. 2. When the sinner thus sees his misery, then he begins to scramble for his own comforts, that he may relieve himself, he will reform sin and do superficial duties, and so think to make amends, this is Carnal confidence, thus many a man perisheth, resting on these husks, for Means are not Mediators, and Services are not Saviours; Now in the place thereof God discovers that there is sin enough in the best services. The Soul being thus plucked off from sin and from all his lusts, and pared from his abilities, renouncing all confidences, and being nothing he is fit for Christ to be all in all unto him; thus far we have gone. All this while the Soul is like the children of Israel partly wandering in the valley of Tears, partly wildering in ⟨p. 3⟩the desert of Humiliation. Egypt was a Type of a mans natural condition, Moses a Type of the Law, Joshua a Type of Christ, the wilderness a Type of these two. Now the soul having passed through all these, is just upon the Coast of Canaan. The soul is like a graft, first, it is cut off, then pared, and then ingrafted:
FOr the Preface two things are considerable. 1. What wee have done. 2. What wee will doe. We have finished the scope of our endevour, which was to shew how Christs Merits are applied to the Soule, how it stands possessed of grace here and happinesse hereafter. Now these two things must be wrought in the Soule, before it can be made partaker of saving grace: 1. A preparation. 2. an Implantation. A preparation there must be,§1 for a sinner naturally as he hath no grace, so hee ⟨p. 2⟩is not naturally capable to receive grace. This appeares in 2. things: 1. On Gods part, he breakes the cursed Combination betwixt Sinne and the Soule, hee drawes us from sinne to himselfe. 2. Something on our part touching the disposition of our hearts: and that in 2. workes. 1. Contrition, 2. Humiliation. Now there was a necessity of these two to be in the Soule, as wee then disputed, for these are the two maine hinderances §1of our Faith: 1. Security, when the soule being blinded takes rest and sees no need to be better, therefore desires it not, hence naturall men thinke it Curiosity, therefore the Lord sends in this worke, and causeth us to know the misery of sinne, and pierces our soules with it, and so upon this we desire a change, for else it sees it must be §2condemned. 2. When the sinner thus sees his misery, then he begins to scramble for his owne comforts, that he may releeve himselfe, hee will reforme sinne and doe superficiall duties, and so thinke to make amends, this is Carnall confidence, thus many a man perisheth, resting on these huskes, for Meanes are not Mediatours, and Services are not Saviours; Now in the place thereof God discovers that there is sinne enough in the best services. The Soule being thus plucked off from sin and from all his lusts, and pared from his abilities, renouncing all confidences, and being nothing hee is fit for Christ to bee all in all unto him; thus farre we have gone. All this while the Soule is like the children of Israel partly wandring in the valley of Teares, partly wildring in ⟨p. 3⟩the desart of Humiliation. Egypt was a Type of a mans naturall condition, Moses a Type of the Law, Iosuah a Type of Christ, the wildernesse a Type of these two. Now the soule having passed through all these, is just upon the Coast of Canaan. The soule is like a graft, first, it is cut off, then pared, and then ingrafted:
