The Soul's Preparation for Christ

The third consideration is this. Nay, yet if thou thinkest to lift up thy self above all creatures and to bear more then they all; then set before thine eyes the sufferings of the Lord Jesus Christ, he that creates the heavens and upholds the whole frame thereof, when the wrath of God came upon him, only as a surety; he cries out with his eyes full of tears, and his heart full of sorrow, ⟨p. 57⟩and the heavens full of lamentations,¹ My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Oh thou poor creature, if thou hast the heart of a man, gird up the loins of thy mind, and see what thou canst do? Doest thou think to bear that which the Lord Jesus Christ could not bear with so much sorrow? Yet he did endure it without any sin or weakness; he had three sips of the Cup, and every one of them did sink his soul; and art thou, a poor sinful wretch, able to bear the wrath of God for ever? Now (beloved) seeing all objections are answered, and the things made plain, labour to do that which you may have comfort in; Submit your selves to the good word of the Lord, and not only be willing and content to be thus enlightened, but labour for it, that thou mayest prevent the Judgements deserved by the same.

The third consideration is this. Nay, yet if thou thinkest to lift up thy self above al creatures and to beare more then they all; then set before thine eyes the sufferings of the Lord Jesus Christ, he that creats the heavens and upholds the whole frame thereof, when the wrath of God came upon him, onely as a surety; he cries out with his eyes full of teares, and his heart full of sorrow, ⟨p. 57⟩and the heavens full of lamentations,¹ My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Oh thou poore creature, if thou hast the heart of a man, gird up the loines of thy mind, and see what thou canst doe? Doest thou thinke to beare that which the Lord Jesus Christ could not beare with so much sorrow? Yet he did indure it without any sinne or weaknesse; he had three sippes of the Cuppe, and every one of them did sinke his soule; and art thou, a poore sinfull wretch, able to beare the wrath of God for ever? Now (beloved) seeing all objections are answered, and the things made plaine, labour to do that which you may have comfort in; Submit your selves to the good word of the Lord, and not only be willing and cotent to be thus enlightned, but labour for it, that thou maiest prevent the Judgements deserved by the same.