A03611:126
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.
1A man may sin more in thought then in any other kind whatsoever; both in regard of the vileness of sin, and his unavoidableness thereof. A thief cannot rob all the town, but a covetous man may wish all in the town were hanged, that he might have their goods; and so an adulterer cannot commit sin with every woman in the town, but he may lust after both the godly and profane, and he may commit adultery both with the chaste and unchaste too in his thoughts; A man may sin infinitely in this kind, and never have done: for no company nor place can hinder an adulterer from sinning and lusting, nor the malicious man from envying in his heart, nor the covetous man from desiring the goods of other men. Though thou darest not cut the throat of a minister, yet thou canst malice all the ministers in the country.
1A man may sinne more in thought then in any other kinde whatsoever; both in regard of the vilenesse of sin, and his unavoydablenesse thereof. A theefe cannot robbe all the towne, but a covetous man may wish all in the towne were hanged, that he might have their goods; and so an adulterer cannot commit sinne with every woman in the towne, but he may lust after both the godly and prophane, and he may commit adultery both with the chast and unchast too in his thoughts; A man may sinne infinitly in this kinde, and never have done: for no company nor place can hinder an adulterer from sinning and lusting, nor the malicious man from envying in his heart, nor the covetous man from desiring the goods of other men. Though thou darest not cut the throat of a minister, yet thou canst malice all the ministers in the countrey.
- 1How sinful thoughts are produced.How sinfull thoughts are produced.
Fourthly, the soul hath a strange inward resolution of •leaving to sin, whatsoever can be said or done to the contrary. And this inward resolution of the soul hath a delight in corruptions, though he die, and be damned for the same; this plucketh the heart from the word, and layeth so many mists upon the understanding, that it cannot see the truth; when the soul hath nothing to say for it self, it falls to open and profest reviling of Jesus Christ, and defying of him; and hence it is, that after many good arguments the soul stands as it were at a set; and saith, I will not believe it, though there were five thousand Ministers to persuade me to it; and why doth