A03611:103
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.
Therefore woe to that soul that is thus miserable and accursed. I beseech you pass this sentence against your selves, Oh brethren, the hearts of men are past this brokenness of spirit, nay, they are enemies to it, they never had their judgments cleared and convicted of their sins, and therefore their hearts were never broken, and this brokenness is so far from their heart as it never came into the head; we think not of the foul nature of sin: Doest thou think this to be a good heart that was never humbled & prepared for Christ? alas, it is so far from being truly wrought upon, that it was never in any way to partake of mercy from God; therefore thy condition is marvellous miserable; thy misery is as great as thy sin, if not greater, because when a sinful creature is wounded and galled for his sin, there is some hope he may be cured and helped, but an ignorant soul is not capable of it, he is in hell and seeth it not; he is under the power of Satan and thinks himself at liberty, nay ⟨p. 35⟩for the present, he is uncapable of any good from the means appointed to that end.
Therefore woe to that soule that is thus miserable and accursed. I beseech you passe this sentence against your selves, Oh brethren, the hearts of men are past this brokennesse of spirit, nay, they are enemies to it, they never had their judgments cleared and convicted of their sinnes, and therefore their hearts were neuer broken, and this brokennesse is so farre from their heart as it never came into the head; we thinke not of the foule nature of sinne: Doest thou thinke this to be a good heart that was never humbled & prepared for Christ? alas, it is so farre from being truly wrought upon, that it was never in any way to pertake of mercy from God; therefore thy condition is marvellous miserable; thy misery is as great as thy sinne, if not greater, because when a sinfull creature is wounded and gauled for his sinne, there is some hope he may be cured and helped, but an ignorant soule is not capable of it, he is in hell and seeth it not; he is under the power of Satan and thinkes himselfe at liberty, nay ⟨p. 35⟩for the present, he is uncapable of any good from the meanes appointed to that end.