A03611:159
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.
Gather up all then, if a plain and particular application of the word hits the heart soonest & ⟨p. 68⟩sinks deepest into the heart, then it is a special means to work a sight of sin, and affect the heart with sorrow for it; But the former part is true: Therefore the latter cannot be denied.
Gather up all then, if a plaine and particular application of the word hits the heart soonest & ⟨p. 68⟩sincks deepest into the heart, then it is a speciall meanes to worke a sight of sinne, and affect the heart with sorrow for it; But the former part is true: Therefore the latter cannot be denied.
1The first use is for instruction, Here we find the reason why plain teaching finds such opposition, why it is so cavilled at by all ministers & others; because thereby the eye of the soul comes to be opened, and all a mans abominations are discovered, and his conscience is pinched by the same; Our Saviour saith, He that doth evil, hates the light, lest his deeds should be reproved, as a thief hates the light and the lantern-bearer, because they show his villainy; so they that are guilty of many sinful courses, and base practises, hate the minister that brings the word with any power to their souls. A malefactor at the Assizes can be content to see an hundred men in the town and is never troubled with them; but if he sees one man that comes to give in evidence against him, and knows his practises; Oh how his heart riseth with desperate indignation against that man. Oh saith he, this is he that seeks my life, he will make my neck crack; so it is with this soul saving ministry, it is that which brings in a bill of indictment against a man. Now a man can be content to come, and hear though it be never so many sermons; but if a minister comes in for a witness against him, and begins to arraign him, and to indict him, for his pride, and malice, and covetousness, and to convince him of them, and to lay him flat before the Lord, & his conscience,