A03611:460
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.
It may be, the wife is sick, and the husband saith, I pray you show her some comfort. Why, saith the Minister, what needs •hee any comfort, seeing she was never in distress? Oh! saith he, she hath lived an honest quiet woman: and so by this means we hear of nothing, but good. I would fain wrest this madness out of the hearts of carnal wretches. When the Lord hath them upon the rack, then their consciences are full of horror, and they know not which way to take; yet they scorn to acknowledge any thing: shall they be (convicted of their sins, and) such babies, to cry their sins at the market cross? they have a better course then so: for (say they) who knows it? and, let him prove it, or the like. What if no man ever yet knew it? thy own conscience, and God, knows it.
It may be, the wife is sicke, and the husband saith, I pray you shew her some comfort. Why, saith the Minister, what needs •hee any comfort, seeing shee was never in distresse? Oh! saith hee, shee hath lived an honest quiet woman: and so by this meanes wee heare of nothing, but good. I would faine wrest this madnesse out of the hearts of carnall wretches. When the Lord hath them upon the racke, then their consciences are full of horrour, and they know not which way to take; yet they scorne to acknowledge any thing: shall they be (convicted of their sins, and) such babies, to cry their sinnes at the marketcrosse? they have a better course then so: for (say they) who knowes it? and, let him prove it, or the like. What if no man ever yet knew it? thy owne conscience, and God, knowes it.
If thou goest to a Physician thou wilt lay open all thy soars & all thy pains to him, or else thou ⟨p. 232⟩expectest no help from him; and canst thou look for any comfort from a minister, and never discover thy sins, whereby thou art hindered in a good course; men would be comforted, and yet never knew why they were afflicted;