A03611:534
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.
As in war, haply they cannot take the enemy, but they will drive him out of the Country, and burn down all his Forts, and fill up all his Trenches, that he may find no provision: so the heart that truly hates sin, and hath been truly broken for it, will hate all occasions and whatsoever may be any means to strengthen it. Even all these proud and whorish locks, and these Spanish cuts, & all these wanton and garish attires, and light behaviours, which were nothing else but the Tent wherein his vain filthy light heart hath lodged.
As in warre, haply they cannot take the enemy, but they will drive him out of the Country, and burne downe all his Forts, and fill up all his Trenches, that hee may finde no provision: so the heart that truly hates sinne, and hath beene truly broken for it, will hate all occasions and whatsoever may be any meanes to strengthen it. Even all these proud and whorish lockes, and these Spanish cuts, & all these wanton and garish attires, and light behaviours, which were nothing else but the Tent wherein his vaine filthy light heart hath lodged.
Thus it was with Mary Magdalen: & the reason why it is so,1 is this: because the heart that hath been broken for sin, and burdened with the evil of it, hath now found by woeful experience, that sin is the greatest evil of all others: and therefore (for the preservation of it self) it will hate that sin which separates between God and the Soul, and with which the safety of the soul cannot stand.
Thus it was with Mary Magdalen: & the reason why it is so,1 is this: because the heart that hath beene broken for sinne, and burdened with the evill of it, hath now found by wofull experience, that sinne is the greatest evill of all others: and therefore (for the preservation of it selfe) it will hate that sinne which separates betweene God and the Soule, and with which the safety of the soule cannot stand.