A03611:112
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.
1Secondly, labour to acquaint your selves throughly with God and with his law, and to see the compass and breadth of it; the words of the commandments are few, but there are many sins forbidden in them, and many duties required; therefore labour to see thy sins convicted, and thy many duties neglected. The Apostle Paul thought himself once alive without the Law, and who but he in the world? he was able to carry all before him, he thought his penny good silver, but when the Law came (saith the text) then sin revived;2 when God had opened my eyes to see my sin and the corruptions of my heart, then I saw my self a dead man, yet Paul was a Pharisee, and brought up at the feet of Gamaliel, and one that did keep the Law of God in a strict manner. Whence we learn, that a man may be an ignorant man, be his parts never so great for humane learning;3 and the •ame Apostle saith, I had not known lust, except the law of God had said, thou shalt not lust, by which is meant the tenth commandment, which forbids the secret distemper of the heart, though there is no delight and consent to it; who ⟨p. 39⟩but Paul? and yet he knew it not, and therefore no wonder though many otherwise well learned are ignorant in Gods Law, therefore look your selves in this glass of the word; all you that say how ever you are not able to talk so freely as others, yet you have as good a heart to God as the best, I tell you if you could but see the filthiness of your hearts, you would be out of love with your selves for ever.
1Secondly, labour to acquaint your selves throughly with God and with his law, and to see the compasse and breadth of it; the words of the commandements are few, but there are many sins forbidden in them, and many duties required; therefore labour to see thy sinnes convicted, and thy many duties neglected. The Apostle Paul thought himselfe once alive without the Law, and who but he in the world? he was able to carry all before him, he thought his peny good silver, but when the Law came (saith the text) then sinne revived;