A03611:306
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.
The sorrow of the soul in this preparative work of it,1 is thus to be conceived; when the word of God leaves an impression upon the heart of a man, so that the heart of it self is as it were a patient, and only bears the blow of the Spirit; the Spirit of the Lord and the over-pouring force of the same forceth the soul to bear the word: and hence come all those phrases of Scripture, as wounded, pierced, pricked, and the like, only in the passive voice; Because the soul is a patient, and the Lord by the almighty hand of his Spirit, breaks in upon the soul, so that this sorrow in preparation is rather a sorrow wrought upon me, then any work coming from any spiritual ability in my self.2 This is sorrow in preparation when I am a patient, and wherein I receive the work of the Spirit, and am forced and framed by the spirit to do that which I do in this kind.
The sorrow of the soule in this preparative worke of it,1 is thus to be conceived; when the word of God leaves an impression upon the heart of a man, so that the heart of it selfe is as it were a patient, and onely beares the blow of the Spirit; the Spirit of the Lord and the over-powring force of the same forceth the soule to beare the word: and hence come all those phrases of Scripture, as wounded, pierced, pricked, and the like, only in the passive voice; Because the soule is a patient, and the Lord by the almighty hand of his Spirit, breakes in upon the soule, so that this sorrow in preparation is rather a sorrow wrought upon me, then any worke comming from any spirituall ability in my selfe.2 This is sorrow in preparation when I am a patient, and wherein I receive the worke of the Spirit, and am forced and framed by the spirit to doe that which I doe in this kinde.
- 1Twofold sorrow.
- 2What preparative sorrow is.