A03611:178
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.
Dost thou deal so with thy sins? thou wouldest have the minister deal kindly with drunkenness and adultery and malice; do not kill drunkenness, but only take him prisoner, keep him in, reform the outward face of drunkenness, that we may not be drunken in the open streets, but in a corner, and so that men may not swear at every turn, but when they come among gentlemen, that they do it cunningly.
Dost thou deale so with thy sinnes? thou wouldest have the minister deal kindly with drunkennesse and adultery and malice; do not kill drunkennesse, but only take him prisoner, keep him in, reforme the outward face of drunkennesse, that we may not be drunken in the open streets, but in a corner, and so that men may not sweare at every turne, but when they come among gentlemen, that they doe it cunningly.
The case is clear, thy soul if it be of this temper, it never hated sin, it never sorrowed for sin, it never found the word of God working upon it for the subduing of sin.
The case is cleare, thy soule if it be of this temper, it never hated sinne, it never sorrowed for sinne, it never found the word of God working upon it for the subduing of sinne.
Imagine there were a traitor or rebel come into the town, that sought to take away the Kings life, nay, suppose he were thy enemy or ⟨p. 80⟩the like, will any one say that man hates an enemy,1 that cannot endure to have an enemy discovered, attached, and brought to execution? No sure, but he loves him, he covers him, he hides him, and would not have him known, he is a lover of a traitor, and a traitor himself? else why do you harbour a traitor; you cover him that he cannot come to judgment, and therefore you are a friend unto him: so it is in this case, Canst thou say that thou hatest sin, thou hatest malice, and covetousness, and looseness, and profaneness, and in the mean time, thy soul saith, I cannot endure that the minister should discover these, I cannot endure that he should attach them, and arrest my soul for my covetousness and adultery and the like? My heart riseth and I would cover it, and hide it, nay I can bear it out sometimes and say, the traitor is not here, I am not the drunkard, I am not the adulterer you talk of; but if the minister will pursue thy soul, then thou shuttest the door against him: If it be thus with thee, I tell thee thou art a friend to the traitor, thou never hatedst thy sin, thou wert never yet brought to a true sight or sorrow for it.