A03611:135
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.
Thou that thinkest it such an •as•e matter, ask thy own heart this question: Canst thou be content to lay open all thy cursed sinful courses, and all the wrong that thou hast done; Consider what a hard matter it is to bring thy heart to it; to confess all thy close adulteries; and when thou hast done all this, thou mayest be as far from salvation as Judas was, who went and hanged himself; therefore it is not every sorrow will serve the turn, and bring comfort to thy soul; but it must be repentance of the right stamp; And again, dost thou think thou hast ⟨p. 52⟩repentance at command, this is that which cuts the throat of mens souls, and deprives them of all the benefit of the means of grace; thou art not sure though thou shalt live, thou hast power of thy self to repent savingly; and shall any man be so senseless, as to hang his happiness on that which cannot help him? If thou didst consider thy own weakness, thou wouldest not say that repentance is in thine own power. Remember what the Apostle saith,1 Proving if peradventure at any time God would give repentance, that they may acknowledge the truth, and come to amendment of life out of the snares of the Devil. It is only but peradventure, it is a rare work, and few have it.
Thou that thinkest it such an •as•e matter, aske thy owne heart this question: Canst thou bee content to lay open all thy cursed sinfull courses, and all the wrong that thou hast done; Consider what a hard matter it is to bring thy heart to it; to confesse all thy close adulteries; and when thou hast done all this, thou mayest be as farre from salvation as Iudas was, who went and hanged himselfe; therefore it is not every sorrow will serve the turne, and bring comfort to thy soule; but it must be repentance of the right stampe; And againe, dost thou thinke thou hast ⟨p. 52⟩repentance at command, this is that which cuts the throat of mens soules, and deprives them of all the benefit of the meanes of grace; thou art not sure though thou shalt live, thou hast power of thy selfe to repent savingly; and shall any man be so senselesse, as to hang his happinesse on that which cannot help him? If thou didst consider thy owne weakenesse, thou wouldest not say that repentance is in thine owne power. Remember what the Apostle saith,