A03611:475
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.
To whom shall I look (saith God) even to a man that hath a contrite heart, 1and trembles at my word: this is the root, and this is the fruit: the heart must be contrite and broken by the hammer of Gods Law, before it can shake at the hearing ⟨p. 238⟩of the word; A broken heart comes not to flout at the minister (nay, that is a sturdy heart) but a broken heart shakes at the word of God; if there come a promise, a broken heart trembles lest he hath no share in it; and if there be any command, he trembles lest he should not be able to obey it, but if the Lord meet with some main lust, as secret malice against the Saints of God, and secret uncleanness; or the like: if the Lord give a wipe at these things in the word, then this broken heart hath enough, he hath his load, and longs to be private, he remembers that truth; and the wound being fresh bleeds again, and he mourns again, and lays hold on his heart, and saith, Good Lord, I was this malicious wretch, I intended this mischief to thy Saints, and (if it had been in my power) I could have sucked their blood, I was that unclean wretch; shall all these sins be pardoned? and shall all these cursed abominations be removed? Can these corruptions be subdued?
To whom shall I looke (saith God) even to a man that hath a contrite heart, 1and trembles at my word: this is the root, and this is the fruit: the heart must be contrite and broken by the hammer of Gods Law, before it can shake at the hearing ⟨p. 238⟩of the word; A broken heart comes not to flout at the minister (nay, that is a sturdy heart) but a broken heart shakes at the word of God; if there come a promise, a broken heart trembles lest he hath no share in it; and if there be any command, he trembles lest he should not be able to obey it, but if the Lord meet with some maine lust, as secret malice against the Saints of God, and secret uncleannesse; or the like: if the Lord give a wipe at these things in the word, thē this broken heart hath enough, he hath his load, and longs to be private, he remembers that truth; and the wound being fresh bleeds againe, and he mournes againe, and laies hold on his heart, and saith, Good Lord, I was this malicious wretch, I intended this mischiefe to thy Saints, and (if it had beene in my power) I could have sucked their blood, I was that uncleane wretch; shall all these sinnes be pardoned? and shall all these cursed abominations be removed? Can these corruptions be subdued?