A03611:369
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.
Secondly, It condemns such as are in a fair strain; such are they that have a slight sense of sin; but it never goes down to the heart, the skin is rippled a little, but the call of their heart was never broken for their abominations. Naaman was to wash seven times in Jordan, so this water of godly sorrow is of a healing nature, but these men do not rub and rinse their souls in it, they only dip their souls in a little sorrow, but you must wash it throughly and fully, if ever you desire to have the leprosy of sin purged out: Men bathe their sins with tears, but they do not drown them; they do as parents do with their children, they will correct them a little, and presently cocker them again; so the hypocrite useth to trouble his corruptions; and complain of them and vex them a little with sorrow; but in the mean time cocker them and dandle them again. But sin will not be so killed, and the heart will not be so easily broken, this kind of sorrow is too slight and overly.
Secondly, It condemns such as are in a faire straine; such are they that have a slight sense of sinne; but it never goes downe to the heart, the skinne is ripled a little, but the kall of their heart was never broken for their abominations. Naaman was to wash seven times in Iordan, so this water of godly sorrow is of a healing nature, but these men doe not rubbe and reince their soules in it, they only dippe their soules in a little sorrow, but you must wash it throughly and fully, if ever you desire to have the leprosie of sinne purged out: Men bathe their sinnes with teares, but they doe not drown them; they do as parents doe with their children, they will correct them a little, and presently cocker them againe; so the hypocrite useth to trouble his corruptions; and complaine of them and vexe them a little with sorrow; but in the meane time cocker them and dandle them againe. But sinne will not be so killed, and the heart will not be so easily broken, this kinde of sorrow is too slight and overly.
As it is with a debtor, that hath borrowed money, he will complain he had an ill bargain, and desires that either he might have the debt ⟨p. 194⟩