The Soul's Preparation for Christ

Therefore plough up all, & by sound saving sorrow labour to have thy heart burdened for sin, and estranged from it, and this is good husbandry indeed; the want of this was the wound of the thorny ground as you may see in the parable, those hearers had much of the world in them,¹ much ease, and profit, and pleasure, and these choked the word and made it utterly unfruitful, and so they never received comfort nor mercy afterwards.² This is that which the Prophet David saith, A contrite and an humble heart O God thou wilt not despise ▪ If you would have your hearts such as God may •ake delight in, and accept; you must have them broken and contrite: David saith The Lords voice breaketh the Cedars of Libanus. So the voice of the Lord like lightning must thunder into the corrupt heart of sinful creatures.³

Therefore plow up all, & by sound saving sorrow labour to have thy heart burthened for sin, and estranged from it, and this is good husbandry indeed; the want of this was the wound of the thorny ground as you may see in the parable, those hearers had much of the world in them,¹ much ease, and profit, and pleasure, and these choaked the word and made it utterly unfruitful, and so they never received comfort nor mercy afterwards.² This is that which the Prophet David saith, A contrite and an humble heart O God thou wilt not despise ▪ If you would have your hearts such as God may •ake delight in, and accept; you must have them broken and contrite: David saith The Lords voice breaketh the Cedars of Libanus. So the voice of the Lord like lightning must thunder into the corrupt heart of sinfull creatures.³