A03611:69
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.
Lastly, you must resolve to bestow the utmost of your endeavour to get this mercy at the hands of the Lord: It is not a dipping of a foul cloth in water will cleanse it, but it must be soaked and rinsed in it: so you must not think to have the foul stains of sin washed away with a few tears; No, no; you must rub your hearts over & over, and awake your consciences again and again; it is not a little examination, nor a little sorrow will serve the turn; the Lord will pull down those proud hearts of yours, and (it may be,) let you go a begging for mercy all your days, and well you may have it at your last gasp when all is done.
Lastly, you must resolve to bestow the utmost of your endeavour to get this mercy at the hands of the Lord: It is not a dipping of a foule cloth in water will cleanse it, but it must be soaked and rinced in it: so you must not thinke to have the foule staines of sinne washed away with a few teares; No, no; you must rub your hearts over & over, and awake your consciences againe and againe; it is not a little examination, nor a little sorrow will serve the turne; the Lord will pull downe those proud hearts of yours, and (it may be,) let you goe a begging for mercy all your dayes, and well you may have it at your last gasp when all is done.
The main point in hand is this, It is for the first part of contrition for the sight of sin; This hearing is not barely the sound of a mans words, but the sense and meaning of the words, by which the mind is enlightened, and he begins seriously to ponder the nature of his sins, that were so laid open unto him: thus hearing they came to be pierced.
The maine point in hand is this, It is for the first part of contrition for the sight of sinne; This hearing is not barely the sound of a mans words, but the sense and meaning of the words, by which the mind is inlightned, and he begins seriously to ponder the nature of his sinnes, that were so layed open unto him: thus hearing they came to be pierced.