The Soul's Preparation for Christ

The first use is for instruction;¹ from the former truth delivered we may learn that an ignorant heart is a naughty heart, and a miserable wretched heart, whether it be out of ignorance that cannot, or out of wilfulness that men will not apprehend their conditions, both are marvellous sinful and miserable; I desire to deal plainly in this point, because I know there are many that do flatter themselves in their conditions, and think all is well with them; I will say nothing of the cause, but I appeal to the hearts of all that hear me this day, & your selves shall be judges in these particulars; Imagine you did see a poor sinner come before you, and lay open his condition and bewail it with bitterness, saying, that for his own part he never did find his heart touched for his sins, nor sorrow for his corruptions did ever enter into his soul, but he hath lived senseless and careless; & for this wounding of spirit he counted it a wonder; for this humbleness of heart it was ever a riddle unto him: let any one pass sentence upon this man now ⟨p. 34⟩and tell me seriously what do you think of such a person: I hear (me thinks) every man reason thus, (and every mans heart shakes at it) & saith, Good Lord, what a senseless poor ignorant creature is this? If no humbling for sin, no pardoning for sin, and no share in Christ, no salvation? What, is this a good heart that is not in the way to receive any good? If a man be never broken for sin, God will never bind him up, and if never humbled, and burdened for his sin, God will never ease him of it.

The first use is for instruction;¹ from the former truth delivered we may learne that an ignorant heart is a naughty heart, and a miserable wretched heart, whether it be out of ignorance that cannot, or out of wilfulnesse that men will not apprehend their conditions, both are marvelous sinfull and miserable; I desire to deale plainly in this point, because I know there are many that doe flatter themselves in their conditions, and thinke all is well with them; I will say nothing of the cause, but I appeale to the hearts of all that heare me this day, & your selves shall be judges in these particulars; Imagine you did see a poore sinner come before you, and lay open his condition and bewaile it with bitternesse, saying, that for his owne part he never did find his heart touched for his sinnes, nor sorrow for his corruptions did ever enter into his soule, but he hath lived senselesse and carelesse; & for this wounding of spirit he counted it a wonder; for this humblenes of heart it was ever a ridle unto him: let any one passe sentence upon this man now