A03611:375
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.
Let these men remember that it is a heavy sign God hath forsaken them; me thinks this should trouble their souls exceedingly, & force them to cry out, I am the man that have my heart fatted, and would not be touched and converted.
Let these men remember that it is a heavy signe God hath forsaken them; me thinkes this should trouble their soules exceedingly, & force them to cry out, I am the man that have my heart fatted, and would not be touched and converted.
Now if all be true that I have said, there are but few sorrowers for sin, therefore few saved; here we see the ground & reason, why many fly off from Godliness, and Christianity: This is the cause; their souls were only troubled with a little hellish sorrow, but their hearts were never kindly grieved for their sins. If a mans arm be broken and disjointed a little, it may grow together again; But if it be quite broken ⟨p. 197⟩off, it cannot grow together; so the terror of the Law affrighted his conscience, and a powerful minister unjointed his soul, and the Judgements of God were rending of him; but he was never cut off altogether: and therefore he returns as vile, and as base, if not worse then before, and he grows more firmly to his corruptions.
Now if all be true that I have said, there are but few sorrowers for sinne, therefore few saved; here we see the ground & reason, why many fly off from Godlinesse, and Christianity: This is the cause; their soules were only troubled with a little hellish sorrow, but their hearts were never kindly grieved for their sinnes. If a mans arme be broken and disjoynted a little, it may grow together againe; But if it be quite broken ⟨p. 197⟩off, it cannot grow together; so the terrour of the Law affrighted his conscience, and a powerfull minister unjointed his soule, and the Judgements of God were rending of him; but he was never cut off altogether: and therfore he returnes as vile, and as base, if not worse then before, and he growes more firmly to his corruptions.