A03611:404
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.
1The first reason is, because unless the Lord should leave this hope in the heart, it would utterly be overthrown with despair: You that make nothing of your loose thoughts, and vain speeches, I tell you, if God did set but one sinful thought upon thy heart, thy soul would sink under it, & the Lords wrath would drive thee to marvellous desperation: were it not that the Lord doth uphold thee with one hand, as he beats thee down with the other, (I say) it were impossible but the soul should despair, (as the proverb is,) But for hope the heart would break, Who can stand under the Almighty hand of God, unless he doth uphold him: God hath broken off the sinner by this sorrow, but he will not throw him to hell: As the gardiner cuts off a graft to plant it into a new stock, not to burn it: So the Lord cuts off a sinner from all abomination, but he will not cast him into hell; and the Lord melts the heart of a poor sinner, but consumes him not, but as the goldsmith melts his gold, not to consume it all away, but to make it a better vessel: So the Lord melts a poor sinner to make him a vessel of glory: the Lord will fire those proud hearts of yours, and clip off those knotty lusts, but if you belong to him, he will leave a little remainder of hope, that you shall be formed and fashioned, not consumed.
1The first reason is, because unlesse the Lord should leave this hope in the heart, it would utterly be overthrowne with despaire: You that make nothing of your loose thoughts, and vaine speeches, I tell you, if God did set but one sinfull thought upon thy heart, thy soule would sinke under it, & the Lords wrath would drive thee to marvelous desperation: were it not that the Lord doth uphold thee with one hand, as he beats thee downe with the other, (I say) it were impossible but the soule should despaire, (as the proverb is,) But for hope the heart would breake, Who can stand under the Almighty hand of God, unlesse he doth uphold him: God hath broken off the sinner by this sorrow, but he will not throw him to hell: As the gardiner cuts off a graft to plant it into a new stocke, not to burne it: So the Lord cuts off a sinner from all abomination, but he wil not cast him into hell; and the Lord melts the heart of a poore sinner, but consumes him not, but as the goldsmith melts his gold, not to consume it all away, but to make it a better vessel: So the Lord melts a poore sinner to make him a vessell of glory: the Lord will fire those proud hearts of yours, and clip off those knotty lusts, but if you belong to him, he will leave a little remainder of hope, that you shall be formed and fashioned, not consumed.