The Soul's Preparation for Christ

that muse not of their sinful ways, the Prophet Jeremiah saith;¹ Were they ashamed when they had committed abominations? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush, he adds a reason in the eleventh verse. They could not be ashamed: why? because they cry, peace, peace, let the ⟨p. 94⟩minister speak what he can, and denounce what judgement he will, they promise themselves peace, & quietness, they consider not their ways, and therefore their hearts are not distempered therewith, nor troubled at the consideration thereof, nay, there are many that count it an excellency, a cunning skill, if they can drive away and shake off the sight of sin, if they can put off the meditation of any thing the word reveals, they make it a marvellous excellent piece of skill, and what they do themselves they would have others do also: but they that now will not see, nor consider, nor meditate of their sins, the truth is, they shall see them as the Lord saith by Isaiah. 26.11. When thy hand is lifted up, they will not see: but they shall see and be ashamed: So I say, you that will not see your sins, but say, What needs all this stir, let the minister say what he will, shall we be mad men, to be troubled, and shall we be fools, to be disquieted with the consideration of our sins? well, you will not muse upon your sins now, but the time will come, that the Lord will set all your sins in order before you, and you shall not be able to look off them.

that muse not of their sinfull wayes, the Prophet Ieremiah saith;¹ Were they ashamed when they had committed abominatiōs? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush, he adds a reason in the eleventh verse. They could not be ashamed: why? because they cry, peace, peace, let the ⟨p. 94⟩minister speake what he can, and denounce what judgement he will, they promise thēselves peace, & quietnes, they consider not their wayes, and therefore their hearts are not distempered therewith, nor troubled at the consideration thereof, nay, there are many that count it an excellencie, a cunning skill, if they can drive away and shake off the sight of sinne, if they can put off the meditation of any thing the word reveales, they make it a marvelous excellent piece of skill, and what they doe themselves they would have others doe also: but they that now will not see, nor consider, nor meditate of their sinnes, the truth is, they shall see them as the Lord saith by