A03611:302
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.
But he that is truly sensible of his sin and the vileness of it, and abhors himself for it, he is truly lost, he is not yet settled on Christ, for then he were safe enough, but he is truly sensible of his lost estate, and therefore shall have faith and Christ; though yet he partake not of them, yet he shall be everlastingly saved and redeemed by Jesus Christ.
But he that is truly sensible of his sinne and the vilenes of it, and abhors himself for it, he is truely lost, he is not yet settled on Christ, for then he were safe enough, but he is truly sensible of his lost estate, and therefore shall have faith and Christ; though yet he partake not of them, yet he shall be everlastingly saved and redeemed by Iesus Christ.
Quest. And therefore this is an idle question, what if a man die in this work of preparation before he come to have faith?
Quest. And therefore this is an idle question, what if a man die in this worke of preparation before he come to have faith?
1I say it is an idle question, because it is impossible that he which is thus prepared for Christ and grace, but he shall have them before he die▪ As the Prophet saith,2 Behold I will send my messenger before me to prepare my ways. When the heart is fitted and prepared, the Lord Christ comes immediately into it: The temple is the soul, & the way is the preparation for Christ; so as the soul is yet to be conceived as in the way of preparation for Christ; not to have any formal work of grace whereby he is able to do anything for himself.