A03611:132
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.
It is desperate ignorance and marvellous Atheism of heart, whereby the devil labours to keep men in sin; the Lord knows thy thoughts long before, if thou wouldest hide thy self from the Lord in the dark, the day and the night are all one with him; nay, the Lord will search Jerusalem with candles, the word in the original signifies to track her, Nay, he will not leave searching till he find thee out;1 for the ways of man are before the Lord, and he ⟨p. 50⟩ponders all his doings, 2and if our hearts condemn us, God knoweth all things, and is greater then our hearts. Doth thy Conscience check thee for vain thoughts, and cursed devices? then God knoweth much more by thee then thou knowest by thy self. God did see Achan stealing the wedge of Gold, and David in his adultery; and he seeth all the malice of thy heart against his Saints; and all thy uprising of heart against Gods word; Nay, the Lord seeth all the pranks of the adulterer in the darkest night; and God is just to bring all things to judgement; and thee also to an account for them; In vain it is for wicked men to dig deep, to hide their counsel from the Lord: These things hast thou done (said God) and I kept silence,3 and therefore thoughtest I was altogether such a one as thy self, but I will reprove thee, and set all thy sins in order before thee.
It is desperate ignorance and marvelous Atheisme of heart, whereby the devill labours to keepe men in sin; the Lord knowes thy thoughts long before, if thou wouldest hide thy selfe from the Lord in the darke, the day and the night are all one with him; nay, the Lord will search Ierusalem with candles, the word in the originall signifies to tracke her, Nay, he will not leave searching till he finde thee out;1 for the wayes of man are before the Lord, and he ⟨p. 50⟩ponders all his doings,