The Soul's Preparation for Christ

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 ⟨p. 116⟩go, and must go, if ever God intend to do good to our souls: and therefore when thou settest thy soul, and bestowest thy self to muse and meditate upon thy corruptions, and lay them to thy heart; when thou findest thy soul to be affected with them, and humbled under them, labour then to see an absolute necessity of a Lord Jesus Christ, and so far see them, that they may drive thee, & compel thee to seek unto Christ for mercy: and this is all God looks for, all the Lord requires and cares for in this preparation or preparative work: And therefore take notice of it, see thy sins so far as they may make thee merely look for a Christ, and to fall upon the arms of Gods mercy in and through Christ.

The third rule, which is marvelous usefull is this: when the soule hath beene affected with