The Soul's Preparation for Christ

Lastly, the soul will not […] with his corruption and lust,¹ which are his god; unless he be wearied with them, and find the gall and bitterness ⟨p. 176⟩of their evil nature; I say, till then, it is impossible that ever the soul should be separate from that sin wherein it hath found such contentment; therefore it is of necessity that they be parted; but before the soul seeth the venom of sin, it will not part with it, and so he cannot come to receive the Lord Jesus Christ and hence it is, that the Lord in his infinite wisdom is thus not only willing to do for a poor sinner, but to force him to it, for there is such love and liking to sin; that if you pull away the adulterers queans, and the drunkards pots, you had as good kill them, and they begin to say, It was well with the town before the minister came there; the reason is, because he would have his sin.

Lastly, the soule will not 〈…〉 with his corruption and lust,¹ which are his god; unlesse he be wearied with them, and finde the gall and bitternesse ⟨p. 176⟩of their evill nature; I say, till then, it is impossible that ever the soule should be separate from that sinne wherein it hath found such contentment; therefore it is of necessity that they be parted; but before the soule seeth the venom of sinne, it will not part with it, and so he cannot come to receive the Lord Jesus Christ and hence it is, that the Lord in his infinite wisedome is thus not only willing to doe for a poore sinner, but to force him to it, for there is such love and liking to sinne; that if you pull away the adulterers queanes, and the drunkards pots, you had as good kill them, and they begin to say, It was well with the towne before the minister came there; the reason is, because he would have his sinne.

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