A03611:380
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.
When men go into a far country for merchandise, they will not take rattles and such toys for their money; but such commodities as they may get something by: so when the Lord comes for broken hearts, you must not think to put the Lord off with a little painted sorrow: No, no, it is a broken heart that the Lord will not despise. Would you know what kind of heart the Lord will accept and never cast off? It is a broken heart: tell your friends and neighbours of it, me thinks you look as if you would find acceptance with God, and go to heaven; oh then get an humble, lowly, broken heart; the Lord regards not all the rivers of oil in the world; not a hundred thousand fasts; but it is a broken heart that God will bless and glorify.
When men goe into a farre countrey for merchandize, they will not take rattles and such toies for their money; but such commodities as they may get something by: so when the Lord comes for broken hearts, you must not thinke to put the Lord off with a little painted sorrow: No, no, it is a broken heart that the Lord wil not despise. Would you know what kinde of heart the Lord will accept and never cast off? It is a broken heart: tell your friends and neighbours of it, me thinkes you looke as if you would finde acceptance with God, and goe to heaven; oh then get an humble, lowly, broken heart; the Lord regards not all the rivers of oyle in the world; not a hundred thousand fasts; but it is a broken heart that God will blesse and glorifie.
Look as it is with a woman's conception, those births that are hasty, the children are either still borne, or the woman most commonly dies; so do not thou think to fall upon the promise presently. Indeed you cannot fall upon it too soon upon good grounds; but it is impossible, that ever a full soul or a haughty heart should believe, thou mayest be deceived, but thou canst not be ingrafted ⟨p. 200⟩into Christ: therefore when God begins to work, never rest till you come to a full measure of this brokenness of heart. Oh follow the blow, and labour to make this work sound and good unto the bottom, and then you shall be sure to receive comfort, as the Prophet David saith,