A03611:169
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.
But thirdly, if reason cannot prevail, they dash this preaching out of countenance, Object. and say, when men want matter to make up their sermons, then they ransack mens consciences, and apply unto them their particular sins, and so they make up their sermons.
But thirdly, if reason cannot prevaile, they dash this preaching out of countenance, Object. and say, when men want matter to make up their sermons, then they ransacke mens consciences, and apply unto them their particular sinnes, and so they make up their sermons.
Answ. To this I answer again, then our Saviour Jesus Christ wanted matter, he presseth their faults to the Scribes and Pharisees seven times together, nay, in the sixth of John he presseth on truth nine times, his aim and end was, namely, that he was the bread of life; he followeth it and settleth it on them. Now in these mens judgements, Christ wanted matter, he had not wherewith to spend the time, & therefore he spake to the hearts of men, and came home to their Consciences: but to say the truth, the ground of their cavils that are cast against this kind of preaching is, because this troubles the hearts of those to whom we speak, & brings vexation to the souls. Do we want matter for our preaching? no, but this I say, it is an easy matter for any man to observe truths out of a text, & to lay forth a point; this is an easy thing for any one that hath a judgement enlightened in the Scripture, but for a minister of God in the work of examination to drive the soul of a carnal man to a stand, that he cannot escape; to make him go away and hang the wings, in so much that the soul shall be humbled, or else go away and snarl at the truth, ⟨p. 76⟩and reproof delivered. Or for a man to uphold a soul in the time of trouble, to comfort it, and take away all doubts, I say this is the hardest matter for a minister to accomplish under the Sun, in the work of the ministry, I speak for these two passages, that all the world may know what belongs to the work of the ministry; and also that all the world may know if men take any distaste at this kind of preaching, we care not, it is our duty.