A03611:334
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.
Now from these former conclusions I reason thus, If a mans sins be his God, and if there cannot be two Gods in one heart, and if those corruptions of the heart must of necessity be cast out, and if the heart will not part with sin till it be wearied with it, and that is done by godly sorro••; then it is a matter of necessity, that the heart must be pierced; and there must be a separation between sin and the soul, before Christ will marry the soul and rule in it; or else there shall be two Gods in one heart, which cannot be.
Now from these former conclusions I reason thus, If a mans sinnes be his God, and if there cannot be two Gods in one heart, and if those corruptions of the heart must of necessity be cast out, and if the heart will not part with sinne till it be wearied with it, and that is done by godly sorro••; then it is a matter of necessity, that the heart must be pierced; and there must be a separation betweene sinne and the soule, before Christ will marry the soule and rule in it; or else there shall be two Gods in one heart, which cannot be.
The second thing in this answer is this, some may say, oh I never found this work in me. Now therefore you must know, how ever this work is wrought in all for the substance of it, yet in a different manner in the most. For the fashion that God useth in framing the heart is different; two ⟨p. 178⟩men are pricked, the one with a pin, the other with a spear: two men are cut, the one with a pen knife, the other with a sword: So the Lord deals kindly and gently with one soul,1 & roughly with another, and handles it marvellous sharply, and breaks it all to pieces. There is the melting of a thing and the breaking of it with hammers; this I say the rather to check the imagination that harbours in the heart of some men, otherwise holy and wise, (and yet mistaken in this point) they think the Lord never works grace, but in this extraordinary manner.