The Soul's Preparation for Christ

¹Secondly, it is a ground of great encouragement to provoke the hearts of all wicked men under heaven, to look out of that condition wherein they are, for some mercy; because the most wicked of the world may be wrought upon, and the most profane heart may be pierced; Who therefore would not have his heart quickened up, to seek out for recovery from that estate wherein he is. All you poor creatures, if there be any here present, as I doubt not but there are; Oh you poor and ungodly sinful creatures, my soul pities you, you that have had your hands imbrued in the blood of Christ, and whose sins are written with a pen of Iron, and are seen in every corner of the street, you that are thus in the gall of bitterness, and yet in the kingdom of darkness, though your case for the present be very desperate, yet here is a little twig in the middest of the main sea, whereupon you may lay hold. And this may make you look up, the Lord may show mercy unto you, as proud, as stubborn, and rebellious as you, have had mercy; If you have the hearts of men look for mercy; though your estate be fearful for the present, ⟨p. 9⟩yet it may be good: God hath not set the scale of condemnation upon your sins, he hath not yet sent you to hell. Consider this whatsoever thou art, thou yet livest upon the earth, and enjoyest the means, and it is possible yet to have all thy sins pardoned; oh lay about thee, go home, & say, Good Lord, were they pierced in their hearts that pierced the Lord Jesus; and were their souls wounded? In conclusion then, why may not my profane sinful heart be humbled and pierced? It may be so, if the Lord say, Amen; it will be thus, that disease is not past remedy that hath been cured in others, therefore let this stay thy heart, as bad as thou have been humbled, and brought home, and therefore why not thou?

¹Secondly, it is a ground of great incouragement to provoke the hearts of all wicked men under heaven, to looke out of that condition wherin they are, for some mercy; because the most wicked of the world may be wrought upon, and the most prophane heart may be pierced; Who therefore would not have his heart quickned up, to seeke out for recovery from that estate wherein he is. All you poore creatures, if there be any here present, as I doubt not but there are; Oh you poore and ungodly sinfull creatures, my soule pitties you, you that have had your hands imbrewed in the blood of Christ, and whose sinnes are written with a pen of Iron, and are seene in every corner of the street, you that are thus in the gall of bitternesse, and yet in the kingdome of darkenesse, though your case for the present be very desperate, yet here is a little twigge in the middest of the maine sea, whereupon you may lay hold. And this may make you looke up, the Lord may shew mercy unto you, as proud, as stubborne, and rebellious as you, have had mercy; If you have the hearts of men looke for mercy; though your estate be fearefull for the present,