A03611:238
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.
I thought to have propounded an example that you may see the practice of the truth delivered: as imagine it were the sin of the opposing of the word, I would break my soul withal; first, by meditation cast the compass of this sin, look into the word, & see whatsoever the word hath revealed of this sin: The text saith, by this means the anger of the Lord is marvellously provoked, in so much that he will laugh at the destruction of such. 1Nay, by this means Christ himself is despised, nay, our condemnation is hereby sealed irrecoverably. 2. Chron. 36.16. the text saith, They despised Gods word, till the wrath of the Lord arose, and there was no remedy: Nay, hereby we aggravate our condemnation. For Christ saith, Mat. 11.22. Woe be to thee Bethsaida: Woe be to thee Chorazin, for if the mighty works which have been done in thee, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented in dust and ashes: But it shall be easier for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgement, then for thee: Nay, the Author to the Hebrews saith, 2.3. How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation? The case of such a man is desperate: how shall we escape? Thus you see the reach how far this sin goeth, gather up all then, and tell your hearts of this, when they rebel and oppose the word of God; How dare I do this? what, provoke God so far as to laugh at my destruction? what, despise Christ and his Spirit, nay, make my case irrecoverable, and aggravate to my condemnation? but if the ⟨p. 128⟩heart will not stoop under this, then call for conscience; conscience to your charge, and then conscience comes, and chargeth the soul on pain of everlasting condemnation to hear and to be humbled; And if this will not do, entreat the Lord to take the rod into his own hand, and bring these truths home unto the soul, that it may never be quieted till it be humbled: this is the course I would have you take, to bring the truth home to your souls. When the minister hath done his sermon, then your work begins, you must hear all the week long: he that never meditates of his sins, is never like to be broken hearted for his sins: take notice of this, The text saith of these converts, They were pricked in their hearts.