A03611:335
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 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.
The second thing in this answere is this, some may say, oh I never found this worke in me. Now therefore you must know, how ever this worke is wrought in all for the substance of it, yet in a different maner 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 pinne, the other with a speare: two men are cut, the one with a pen knife, the other with a sword: So the Lord deals kindly and gently with one soule,1 & roughly with another, and handles it marvelous sharply, and breakes it all to pieces. There is the melting of a thing and the breaking of it with hammers; this I say the rather to checke the imagination that harbours in the heart of some men, otherwise holy and wise, (and yet mistaken in this point) they thinke the Lord never workes grace, but in this extraordinary manner.
- 1All are not alike wounded for sin.All are not alike wounded for sinne.