A03611:266
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.
A Godless and a graceless man is a miserable man though he were never plagued at all; I ⟨p. 148⟩was made to honour God, and I have done nothing else but dishonour him: I was made to subject my self to the good will of God, but I have withdrawn my self from his will; and this is my misery and my plague; If I had been in hell, and had not had sin, I had been a happy man, and though I had been in heaven and had had sin I had been a miserable man; because it makes a separation between me and my God.
A Godlesse and a gracelesse man is a miserable man though he were never plagued at all; I ⟨p. 148⟩was made to honour God, and I have done nothing else but dishonour him: I was made to subject my selfe to the good will of God, but I have withdrawne my selfe from his will; and this is my misery and my plague; If I had beene in hell, and had not had sinne, I had beene a happy man, and though I had beene in heaven and had had sin I had beene a miserable man; because it makes a separation betweene me and my God.
Nay, the sinner still thus pleads with himself, what is this to me that I am rich and miserable, honourable and damned, to have quiet, and ease here, and a benumbed conscience, and so in the end to be thrown among the devils for dogs meat? If I had all the ease, wealth, honours, and friends in the world, so long as I have this vile heart I could not be a happy man.
Nay, the sinner still thus pleads with himselfe, what is this to me that I am rich and miserable, honourable and damned, to have quiet, and ease here, and a benummed conscience, and so in the end to be throwne among the devils for dogges meat? If I had all the ease, wealth, honours, and friends in the world, so long as I have this vile heart I could not be a happy man.