A03611:101
The Soul's Preparation for Christ
The souls preparation for Christ. Or, A treatise of contrition Wherein is discovered how God breaks the heart and wounds the soul, in the conversion of a sinner to Himself.The soules preparation for Christ. Or, A treatise of contrition Wherein is discovered how God breaks the heart and wounds the soule, in the conversion of a sinner to Himselfe.
London: printed by M. Flesher for Robert Dawlman, 1632London: printed by M. Flesher for Robert Davvlman, 1632
THE SOULS PREPARATION FOR CHRIST.THE SOVLES PREPARATION FOR CHRIST.
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.
This is the cause why we commit sin, because we see it not, and therefore we sorrow not for it; As it is with some hot Climates in the world, though there be never so much heat in the sun, yet if there be no entrance for the heat into the house, it will not scorch nor heat any, so the understanding is like the door or entrance into the house, and sin is of a fiery & scorching nature, if there be no passage, and if the mind know not, ⟨p. 33⟩and if the will affect not sin, it will never scorch his conscience; though a man carry sin enough in his bosom to sink his soul for ever, yet we suffer it not to work upon us, and we attend not to it, because the brazen wall keeps it off: (as the proverb is) that the eye never sees, the heart never rues. Because we see not our evils, and discern not our sins so clearly as we should, therefore it is impossible we should be touched for them as we ought to be.
This is the cause why we commit sin, because we see it not, and therefore we sorrow not for it; As it is with some hot Clymates in the world, though there be never so much heat in the sun, yet if there bee no entrance for the heat into the house, it will not scorch nor heat any, so the understanding is like the doore or entrance into the house, and sin is of a fiery & scorching nature, if there be no passage, and if the minde know not, ⟨p. 33⟩and if the will affect not sin, it will never scorch his conscience; though a man carry sin enough in his bosome to sinke his soule for ever, yet wee suffer it not to worke upon us, and wee attend not to it, because the brazen wall keepes it off: (as the proverb is) that the eye never sees, the heart never rues. Because we see not our evills, and discern not our sinnes so clearly as we should, therefore it is impossible we should be touched for them as we ought to be.
The first use is for instruction;1