A03611:66
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.
The first caution is:1 First, consider in thy seeking, a little mercy will not serve the turn; thou that hast been an old weather-beaten sinner, and hast wallowed in thy filthiness, when thou goest to God for grace, consider it is not a little grace, or a small work, that will do the deed: it is not a few spoonfuls or buckets-full, that will cleanse a foul skin; so if thou hast had a filthy, profane ⟨p. 10⟩heart which hath been a through-fare to all wickedness, and thou hast thus given thy self liberty thereunto, and hast continued therein; there must be a well of mercy to purge such a miserable wretch as thou art.
The first caution is:1 First, consider in thy seeking, a little mercy will not serve the turne; thou that hast been an old weather-beaten sinner, and hast wallowed in thy filthinesse, when thou goest to God for grace, consider it is not a little grace, or a small worke, that will doe the deed: it is not a few spoonfulls or buckets-full, that will cleanse a fouleskinne; so if thou hast had a filthy, prophan ⟨p. 10⟩heart which hath been a through-fare to all wickednesse, and thou hast thus given thy selfe liberty thereunto, and hast continued therein; there must be a well of mercy to purge such a miserable wretch as thou art.
- 13 Cautions.
1When David had committed those two sins of adultery & murder, & had continued in them long, he was forced to beg for much mercy, and to say, purge me, wash me, cleanse me. O Lord these stains are marvellous deep, therefore purge me with hyssop; nay he had never done with it, because his sins were more then ordinary; So, it will cost a great deal of work before a loose profane drunkard can be made clean.