The Soul's Preparation for Christ

I use to find this by experience, a City that is be leaguered and won, he that hath won it, sets a Garrison over it, that he may keep it for ever under: So when the soul hath been won by the stroke of meditation affecting the heart with sin, then set a garrison over the soul, and keep it in awe, set a garrison over the Conscience and keep all down, keep all under, that it may submit it self, and that kindly under the stroke of the truth, for it were a blessed frame, if we could always be so in that temper that we are in when we are first humbled for our sins.

I use to finde this by experience, a City that is be leaguerd and wonne, he that hath won it, sets a Garison over it, that he may keepe it for ever under: So when the soule hath beene wonne by the stroke of meditation affecting the heart with sinne, then set a garison over the soule, and keepe it in awe, set a garison over the Conscience and keepe all downe, keepe all under, that it may submit it selfe, and that kindly under the stroke of the truth, for it were a blessed frame, if we could alwayes be so in that temper that we are in when we are first humbled for our sinnes.

The third rule, which is marvellous useful is this: when the soul hath been affected with ⟨p. 115⟩sin by meditation, and kept to sin by attention, then know how you must stint your souls; know therefore that the soul must be so far kept to the consideration of sin, that it may seek out for pardon for sin. This is a point of marvellous use, and you must give the leave to be enlarged; because there are many deceits this way, in the spirits of a man: for mark it, this is the cunning of the Devil, if it be possible, he will keep a man that he shall never see, muse, nor be troubled for sin; and therefore he doth pluck him off, and sends him to company on one side, and merriment on the other side, that by this means, he may keep him from serious meditation of the evil: But if it be so that God will make a man meditate of his sins, and that the heart of a sinner is fully resolved to muse, and ponder, and consider of his corruptions; If he will pore upon his sins, then he shall see nothing else but sin: and thus the Devil hath hindered many a poor soul from coming unto Christ, and from receiving comfort of him; he shall now be always poring upon his corruptions, and therefore here lies the skill of a Christian, not to neglect meditation, and therefore here is the stint of meditation of our sins, you shall thus discover it: So far see thy sins, so far be affected with them, so far hold thy mind to them, that they may make thee see an absolute necessity of a Christ, and that these sins may drive thee to the Lord Jesus Christ for succour: here is the main thing observable, and thus far we may