A03611:389
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.
Thirdly, consider what thy soul finds to be most evil and detestable, whether it be poverty or disgrace, or loss of liberty; and then (mark what I say) get up thy heart higher in the very apprehension of sin as it is sin: and let thy soul be more affected with the vileness of sin, then of any other hardship whatsoever; As thus, suppose thy heart be very proud, if shame and disgrace befall thee, oh how doth this heart shake in the apprehension of it, he can live no longer, except some honour come: Now sin is worse then shame, therefore look up to heaven, & say, oh my heart did shake with shame, but sin is far worse, for, what if the Lord take away my honour, that he hath promised to such as fear his name? and what if he blot my name out of the book of life, therefore sin is worst of all; this is certain, there is no evil the soul fears or finds, but sin is the cause of it, but the separation of the soul from the Lord is the greatest evil, and sin is the cause of it, and therefore rest not till thy soul shake in the apprehension of it. This is the next way to be above punishment or any thing else.
Thirdly, consider what thy soule findes to be most evill and detestable, whether it be poverty or disgrace, or losse of liberty; and then (marke what I say) get up thy heart higher in the very apprehension of sinne as it is sinne: and let thy soule be more affected with the vilenesse of sin, then of any other hardship whatsoever; As thus, suppose thy heart be vere proud, if shame and disgrace befal thee, oh how doth this heart shake in the apprehension of it, he can live no longer, except some honour come: Now sinne is worse then shame, therefore looke up to heaven, & say, oh my heart did shake with shame, but sinne is farre worse, for, what if the Lord take away my honour, that he hath promised to such as feare his name? and what if he blot my name out of the booke of life, therefore sinne is worst of all; this is certaine, there is no evill the soule feares or finds, but sinne is the cause of it, but the separation of the soule from the Lord is the greatest evil, and sinne is the cause of it, and therefore rest not till thy soule shake in the apprehension of it. This is the next way to be above punishment or any thing else.