The Soul's Preparation for Christ

I doubt not but every soul is persuaded of this,¹ and saith, Indeed if I could find my soul grieving within me for my rebellions, and sins, then I did not doubt it; but how shall I know whether my soul hath been ever as yet truly wounded for sin, as sin.

I doubt not but every soule is perswaded of this,¹ and saith, Indeed if I could finde my soule greeving within me for my rebellions, and sinnes, then I did not doubt it; but how shall I know whether my soule hath beene ever as yet truely wounded for sinne, as sinne.

1. 1Object.

Answ. I answer, if thou hast this hatred, and thy heart is carried against thy sins with an utter indignation against them, then certainly thy soul hath been truly broken; indeed, sometimes a man doth hate his sins, more then ever he hath been burdened with them; but thus it is commonly, if thy hatred be good, thy sorrow hath been sincere; for how can thy heart go against sin,¹ except thou have found some evil in it? and how canst thou be an enemy to corruption, except thy heart hath been wounded with it? therefore let me advise all those that desire to have an evidence of the work of grace in their souls, to go in secret, and examine their hearts, whether they can make hue and cry after their corruptions; can you be content that all your sinful distempers, (even those that would affect you most) should be made known either in public by the ministry of the word, or in private by some faithful Christian? and can you be content that he should come home to your hearts, and drag out your corruptions before the world? then you have been wounded for sin, and are enemies against it, (as David saith) Try me O Lord, and examine me, and prove my heart, and my reins;