A03611:60
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.
1From these words this doctrine ariseth; It is possible for the most stubborn sinners upon earth to get a broken heart. They that stoned the Prophets and killed them that were sent unto them, and slighted all the means of grace, they that refused Christ, and would not hear him; they are now brought upon their knees, and are resolved now, if any course might be taken to get Christ and ⟨p. 5⟩mercy. Titus. 12.13. one of their own Prophets said, the Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, and slow bellies: a man would think it a vain thing to meddle with them, they are such desperate wretches, but the text saith, Reprove them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, so that a Cretan which is a filthy beast, by a sound reproof, may come to be a glorious Saint: and whereas the Jews had loaden the Lord with their sins; therefore it was just with God to ease himself of his burden, and so send them and their sins down to hell together. Thus a man would think; but the Lord did not so, as we may see in Isaiah, I am he, 2that blotteth out all thy transgressions, for my own name sake, I will remember your sins no more, and as the Apostle saith,3 the Gentiles were full of all unrighteousness, worse then they almost could be for all kind of degrees of sin, and yet many of them became full of all holiness; Such were some of you (saith the Apostle) and in another place we may see that a Scarlet sinner may become a Saint in nature;4 we know this scarlet is such a deep die, that all the art under heaven cannot alter it: Yet the Lord can make of a Scarlet sinner, a milk white Saint. I do not say it will ever be, and it doth always come to pass, but it is possible.
1From these words this doctrine ariseth; It is possible for the most stubborne sinners upon earth to get a broken heart. They that stoned the Prophets and killed them that were sent unto them, and sleighted all the meanes of grace, they that refused Christ, and would not heare him; they are now brought upon their knees, and are resolved now, if any course might bee taken to get Christ and