A03611:371
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.
O brethren it is a desperate hypocrisy, that sorrow which God hath appointed as a means to purge out sin, should be a means to cover his sin: will a few wambling tears do the deed, and break the heart? is this acceptable sorrow? you your selves are ashamed of this work, and do you think God will accept of it? No, no, it is not the rending of the garments, nor the weeping of the eyes, that will do the deed, but you must break your hearts: If you only cut off the legs or wings of a fowl, it will live for all that: so you cut off the arms or hands of sin, but so long as the heart is not wounded, and driven to any amazement for sin, it will live with you here and in hell too.
O brethren it is a desperate hypocrisie, that sorrow which God hath appointed as a meanes to purge out sinne, should be a meanes to cover his sinne: will a few wambling teares doe the deed, and breake the heart? is this acceptable sorrow? you your selves are ashamed of this work, and do you thinke God will accept of it? No, no, it is not the rending of the garments, nor the weeping of the eyes, that will doe the deed, but you must breake your hearts: If you only cut off the legs or wings of a fowle, it will live for all that: so you cut off the armes or hands of sinne, but so long as the heart is not wounded, and driven to any amazement for sin, it will live with you here and in hell too.
Oh do not cozen your own souls; it is not the tears of the eye, but the blood of the heart that your sins must cost, and if you come not to ⟨p. 195⟩this, never think that your sorrow is good; and therefore you that find your selves guilty, lay your hands upon your hearts & say, Good Lord, this is my portion, the Lord knows I have confessed my sins, and yet have taken liberty to sin: but my heart was never burdened with this evil and vileness of sin; and therefore to this day I never had this true sorrow.
Oh doe not cozen your owne soules; it is not the teares of the eye, but the blood of the heart that your sinnes must cost, and if you come not to