The Soul's Preparation for Christ

As if Satan should say, Knowledge shall not direct him, the Spirit shall not persuade him, & the word shall not prevail with his heart: but I will take possession of him in despite of all these; this is Satan's filling of the heart.

As if Sathan should say, Knowledge shall not direct him, the Spirit shall not perswade him, & the word shall not prevaile with his heart: but I will take possession of him in despite of all these; this is Sathans filling of the heart.

Thus it is with the Hypocrite: his conscience is awakened, and saith, Thou must confess thy sins, or else thou shalt be damned for them: ⟨p. 236⟩the word commands thee, and the Spirit persuades thee to confess thy sin; and hereupon thou sayest, This is my condition, and there is no ease nor comfort to be had in private means, and therefore I must go to some faithful Minister, and reveal my self to him: and when thou hast done, thou keepest back half from him, and thou lyest against Conscience, the Word, and Spirit, and all: and when the Minister saith, Is this the bottom of thy sin? Diddest thou not commit such and such a sin? Oh! no; I was never guilty of any such matter: and yet thou lyest. Mark what I say, this is to have Satan fill thy heart, thou givest up thy heart into the possession of the Devil: Knowledge directs thee not, the Spirit persuades not, and the Word prevails not; but the Devil crowds into every corner of thy heart, and thou wilt cover thy sins, and so perish for them everlastingly.

Thus it is with the Hypocrite: his conscience is awakened, and saith, Thou must confesse thy sinnes, or else thou shalt be damned for them: ⟨p. 236⟩the word commands thee, and the Spirit perswades thee to confesse thy sinne; and hereupon thou saist, This is my condition, and there is no ease nor comfort to be had in private means, and therefore I must goe to some faithfull Minister, and reveale my selfe to him: and when thou hast done, thou keepest backe halfe from him, and thou lyest against Conscience, the Word, and Spirit, and all: and when the Minister saith, Is this the bottome of thy sinne? Diddest thou not commit such and such a sinne? Oh! no; I was never guilty of any such matter: and yet thou lyest. Marke what I say, this is to have Satan fill thy heart, thou givest up thy heart into the possession of the Devill: Knowledge directs thee not, the Spirit perswades not, and the Word prevailes not; but the Devill crowds into every corner of thy heart, and thou wilt cover thy sins, and so perish for them everlastingly.