The Soul's Preparation for Christ

So the Doctrine is this,¹ there is a secret hope of mercy, wherewith God supports the hearts of those that are truly broken hearted for their sins; howsoever these men did see themselves miserable, yet they did not throw off all, & say, Men and brethren there is no hope for us, therefore we will hear no more; but, seeing we must go to hell, we will take our pleasure while we live here in the world, while we may, and if we must be damned we will be damned for some thing; No, these people had some hope that they should find mercy, the Lord bruised the heart, but he did not break it; the Lord will not quench the smoking flax, but kindles it further, and the Lord draws on the work of the soul and plucks it to himself, and makes it look up to him and wait upon him for help and mercy.

So the Doctrine is this,¹ there is a secret hope of mercy, wherewith God supports the hearts of those that are truly broken hearted for their sinnes; howsoever these men did see themselves miserable, yet they did not throw off all, & say, Men and brethren there is no hope for vs, therefore we will heare no more; but, seeing we must go to hell, we wil take our pleasure while we live here in the world, while we may, and if we must bee damned we will be damned for some thing; No, these people had some hope that they should finde mercy, the Lord bruised the heart, but he did not breake it; the Lord will not quench the smoking flaxe, but kindles it further, and the Lord drawes on the worke of the soule and pluckes it to himself, and makes it looke vp to him and waite vpon him for helpe and mercy.

1. 1Doctrine.

I confess, it is true, that sometimes the soul in some desperate fit, and in some horror of heart, when temptation grows violent & long, and the distempers of a mans heart stir exceedingly, then a man may seem to cast of all, and resolve with David when he had been long pursued by Saul, I shall one day fall by the hand of Saul; So the soul saith, God will one day leave me,