A03611:161
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 just Ahab's old humour, he could suit seasonably with four hundred false Prophets, and if there had been five thousand more, they should all have been accepted of him, but when Jehoshaphat said, Is there never another Prophet of the Lord; Oh yes (saith Ahab) there is one Micaiah, but I hate him, he never spake good to me that is, he never soothes me up. So it was the temper of the people mentioned in the Acts, when the Apostle saw they were a rebellious people,1 he deals plainly with them: but they cried, Away with such a fellow, he is not worthy to live. What? said they, then it seems we shall be cast off from the Lord and be his people no more, ⟨p. 70⟩they were not able to bear that: people in this case deal with Gods faithful ministers as the widow of Sarepta did, when the Prophet had told her that the meal in the barrel and the oil in the cruse should not decrease;2 all this while he was welcome: but when her child was dead, Oh what have I to do with thee thou man of God? thinking indeed that the Prophet had killed her son; So all the while we set the doors open wide that all the drunkards and adulterers in the country may go to heaven, you like us well enough, and we are as welcome as may be, and we are marvellous good preachers, and you think us fit for the pulpit, but if we come once to lay sin to your charge, and to threaten condemnation for it, & to say, If God be in heaven you shall never come there, if you continue in your sins, oh then they are up in arms, and say as the widow did▪ Are you come to slay our souls, and awaken our consciences? beloved, this argues a spirit that never found the power of the word; But it is our duties and we must do it, and howsoever it is not accepted of the wicked, yet it shall find entertainment with God, and he shall give us our reward at that great day.
It is just Ahabs old humour, he could sute seasonably with foure hundred false Prophets, and if there had beene five thousand more, they should all have been accepted of him, but when Iehosaphat said, Is there never another Prophet of the Lord; Oh yes (saith Ahab) there is one Micaiah, but I hate him, he never spake good to me that is, he never soothes me up. So it was the temper of the people mentioned in the Acts, when the Apostle saw they were a rebellious people,