A03611:417
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.
Quest. But some will say, how shall we maintain this hope in our hearts, and by what means may we feed this hope?
Quest. But some will say, how shall we maintaine this hope in our hearts, and by what meanes may we feed this hope?
Answ. The means are especially three. First, take notice of the Al-sufficiency of God, as he hath revealed himself in his word;1 say not as many do, I cannot conceive it, or I cannot find it, but what doth the word say? Is not God able to pardon thy sins? (away then with those, I cannot conceive §1it, and the like:) Is there any thing hard for me, saith God? Whatsoever thy estate is, there is nothing hard to him that hath hardness at command; when our Saviour said, It is as easy for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, 2as for a rich man to go into heaven? Good Lord, said they, Who can be saved? But Christ said, with God all things are possible; if you look unto man how he is glued to the world, so that all the ministers under heaven cannot pull him away, but still he will lie, and cozen: Reason and Judgement cannot conceive how this man should be saved, but with God all things are possible: See what the Apostle saith, Abraham above hope believed under hope, 3that he should be the Father of many nations; this he did, because he knew he which had promised was able to perform it; and this did feed his hope, he did believe above hope in regard of the creature, under hope in regard of God. As if he had said, I have a dead body, but God is a living God; and Sarah hath a barren womb, ⟨p. 215⟩but God is a fruitful God.