A03611:130
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.
The first is this, how ever sin is never so vile in it self, and he is guilty thereof; yet he thinks the God of heaven doth not attend to his sins, or else he is not so just or righteous that he will ⟨p. 48⟩punish him for them. Indeed, if he were some notorious wretch, as a murderer, or an adulterer or a thief, or such like, then he had cause to fear, but God will not bring him to an account for every small sin, That this is the sleight of the soul, I will show you; and then show you how to avoid it.
The first is this, how ever sinne is never so vile in it selfe, and he is guilty thereof; yet he thinks the God of heauen doth not attend to his sinnes, or else he is not so just or righteous that he will ⟨p. 48⟩punish him for them. Indeed, if he were some notorious wretch, as a murtherer, or an adulterer or a theef, or such like, then he had cause to feare, but God will not bring him to an account for every smal sin, That this is the sleight of the soule, I will shew you; and then shew you how to avoid it.
It is ordinary with every carnal heart more or less,1 to reason as Eliphaz with Job; How doth God know? can he judge through the dark? thick clouds are a covering to him that he seeth not, he walketh in the circuits of heaven. It is the guise of wicked men to say so; Nay, it is that which the hearts of Gods people are driven to a stand withal, when they consider the passages of wicked men, now God seeth them and doth not punish them, they say, How doth God know? and, Is there knowledge in the Almighty? When the Prophet saw the way of the wicked to prosper, their eyes to start out with fatness, he saith, Doth God see this, and not punish it? as if he had said, Did God care for all that is done here below, could he brook such strange oppositions of his word and his gospel and his members? I doubt not, but that there is many an adulterous heart, that thinks a dark night shall cover all his abominations; and the malicious man that contrives evil against Gods children he thinks that God considers not his course; or else that God will not trouble himself to execute Judgement upon him for all his sins. As the Prophet saith, The Lord will not do Good nor Evil; he is marvellous quiet,