A03611:110
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.
First, we must go to God for knowledge; the Lord knows our hearts, therefore we must go to him, that he would make us able to know them too; the Church of Laodicea thought none like her self, as it is the fashion of many in this age so to do; and therefore the Lord said, thou thoughtest thy self rich and full, and that thou didst want nothing; It is an argument of a proud sinful heart that he is always well conceited of himself and of his own wit, grace, and sufficiency, but mark what the Lord saith to this Church, I counsel thee, to buy of me eye-salve: She thought all her counters to be good gold, & all her appearances to be good Religion, but the Lord bids her buy of him eye-salve; As if he had said, you see not your sins, and therefore go to God, and beseech him that dwells in endless light, to let in some light into your souls.
First, we must goe to God for knowledge; the Lord knowes our hearts, therefore we must goe to him, that he would make us able to know them too; the Church of Laodicea thought none like her selfe, as it is the fashion of many in this age so to doe; and therefore the Lord said, thou thoughtst thy selfe rich and full, and that thou didst want nothing; It is an argument of a proud sinfull heart that he is alwaies wel conceited of himselfe and of his owne wit, grace, and sufficiency, but marke what the Lord saith to this Church, I counsell thee, to buy of me eye-salve: She thought all her compters to be good gold, & all her appearances to be good Religion, but the Lord bids her buy of him eye-salve; As if he had said, you see not your sinnes, and therefore goe to God, and beseech him that dwels in endles light, to let in some light into your soules.
When the poor blind man Bartimeus sate begging by the way,1 saying, O thou son of David have mercy upon me, and pressed earnestly on our Saviour, in so much that when his disciples rebuked him, he cried so much the more, O thou son of David have mercy on me, and when Christ said, what wouldst thou have me to do for thee, he answered, Lord, that I may receive my sight. If he did so earnestly seek for his bodily eyes, much more should we for the eyes of our souls, that we may