The Soul's Preparation for Christ

As it is with a man that hath the stone in the ⟨p. 151⟩reins, or some stitch in his side, or where ever his pain or trouble is, there he complains most; and when the Physician comes to feel on his body he saith, is it here? no ••ith he: is it here? and when he cometh to the right place, he saith, there it is, cut there, and lance there: So it is with a man that is stung with the vile nature of sin, when he comes to complain of sin, he doth not altogether complain of his horror, nor of death; but he saith, O! that chambering and wantonness, that pride and stubbornness and rebellion of heart: O! that rioting, and malice against the Saints of God: The soul seeth this, & complains of it, and takes shame to himself for it; as Paul deals with himself: which argues a heart truly weary of corruption. I was a persecutor, and a blasphemer, and the like; and I was received to mercy; he doth not say, I was in horror or in trouble, but I was a persecutor: he doth not say, I was thus and thus plagued, but I was an injurious person to Gods Church, there he was weary, and there he would be eased, if it were possible. Let all vile wretches tremble at it, for God hath enough for all Pharaohs and Nimrods.

As it is with a man that hath the stone in the ⟨p. 151⟩reines, or some stitch in his side, or where ever his paine or trouble is, there he complaines most; and when the Physitiā comes to feele on his body he saith, is it here? no ••ith he: is it here? and whē he commeth to the right place, he saith, there it is, cut there, and launce there: So it is with a man that is stung with the vile nature of sinne, when he comes to complaine of sinne, he doth not altogether complaine of his horrour, nor of death; but he saith, O! that chambring and wantonnesse, that pride and stubbornnesse and rebellion of heart: O! that ryoting, and malice against the Saints of God: The soule seeth this, & complaines of it, and takes shame to himselfe for it; as Paul deales with himselfe: which argues a heart truly weary of corruption. I was a persecutor, and a blasphemer, and the like; and I was received to mercy; he doth not say, I was in horrour or in trouble, but I was a persecutor: he doth not say, I was thus and thus plagued, but I was an injurious person to Gods Church, there he was weary, and there he would be eased, if it were possible. Let all vile wretches tremble at it, for God hath enough for all Pharoes and Nymrods.