The Soul's Preparation for Christ

The first doctrine is this:¹ There must be a true sight of sin before the soul can be broken; for the text saith, They did first hear and then apprehend the evil that was done by them; & thus they were brought to a saving remorse for their sins:² Ezek: 36.31. the text saith, Then shall you remember your own evil ways & your doings, that ⟨p. 12⟩were not good, and shall loath your selves for your abominations. First, they shall remember their works, and then loath themselves; it is the course that Ephraim takes in Jeremiah, ³After that I was instructed, I smote upon my thigh; and after I was turned, I repented, I was ashamed and confounded, because I did bear the reproach of my youth. And it is Gods Course which he takes with his,⁴ as in Job. When the Lord had once gotten his people into fetters, he showed them their Wickedness, and makes their ears open to discipline. And in another place the Prophet showed the ground & reason why the people repented not,⁵ they understood not the ground and reason of their sin, For no man saith, What have I done? As a horse rusheth into the battle and feareth nothing, so a wicked man continues in a sinful course, never considering what he hath done; the drunkard doth not say, How have I abused Gods creatures? and the despiser of Gods ordinances doth not say, How have I rejected the Lord Jesus Christ? And therefore no wonder though he be not affected with that he doth.

The first doctrine is this:¹ There must be a true sight of sinne before the soule can be broken; for the text saith, They did first heare and then apprehend the evill that was done by them; & thus they were brought to a saving remorse for their sinnes:²