A03611:327
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.
I will discover my thoughts in four conclusions, and thus I reason.1 It is a confessed case (I conceive) that every man by nature doth entertain sin as his God, and seeks and loves that most of all; himself, and his sin, is his God. In this case it is his chiefest good, and the heart will not, nay, it cannot, be content to part with it; What is the cause that we propound Christ, and grace, and salvation, to a company of poor simple creatures, and yet the counsels, the promises, and commandments of God prevail not with the heart of them, nor awe them, but still they will have their sins, and the offer of Christ and grace lies in the dust; the adulterer will have his queans, and the drunkard will have his cups, & they will not suffer the word to pluck away their corruptions, but they will have them though they be damned for them, what doth this argue, but that sin is their God. Nay, it is clear, not only in palpable reason, but the Scripture is evident this way: It is the match Christ offers to the young man,2 if he would sell all and follow him, he should have treasure in heaven: he was covetous, and this was fair offer for a little trash, he should have everlasting life, now the text saith, he went away sorrowful, he would rather have his covetousness and his wealth, then heaven.
I will discover my thoughts in foure conclusions, and thus I reason.1 It is a confest case (I conceive) that every man by nature doth entertaine sinne as his God, and seekes and loves that most of all; himselfe, and his sinne, is his God. In this case it is his chiefest good, and the heart will not, nay, it cannot, be content to part with it; What is the cause that we propound Christ, and grace, and salvation, to a company of poore simple creatures, and yet the counsells, the promises, and commandements of God prevaile not with the heart of them, nor awe them, but still they will have their sinnes, and the offer of Christ and grace lies in the dust; the adulterer will have his queans, and the drunkard will have his cups, & they will not suffer the word to plucke away their corruptions, but they will have them though they be damned for them, what doth this argue, but that sinne is their God. Nay, it is cleare, not only in palpable reason, but the Scripture is evident this way: It is the match Christ offers to the young man,