A03611:77
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 reason is this, That which deprives a man of the greatest good must needs be the greatest evil,1 nature says so much, that which deprives a man of all that comfort and happiness wherein the soul finds most content, that must needs be the greatest evil of all, but sin only deprives a man of the greatest good: for the good ⟨p. 16⟩of the soul is, to have an heart united unto God and to have fellowship with him, to have him & salvation through him, to be one with the Lord: this is the chiefest good of the soul: All things here below are made for the good of the body, and the body is made for the good of the soul, and the soul is made for God; and these things here below are only so far good to us, as they are means to make us enjoy a nearer communion with God; and contrarily, riches, and honours, and profits, and pleasures, are as so many curses to us, if by them our hearts be withdrawn from God: The reason why God is estranged from us, it is not because we are poor, or pursued, or imprisoned, or the like; but it is sin that breaks the union between God and us, as the prophet Isaiah saith, Your sins have separated between you and your God: 2Now that which separates from God which is the chiefest good, it is our sins; it is not punishment, that takes away the mercy of God from us; but a proud rebellious heart, and the contempt of Gods ordinances; Therefore sin is far worse then all the plagues that the damned do or can suffer.
The first reason is this, That which deprives a man of the greatest good must needs be the greatest evill,1 nature saies so much, that which deprives a man of all that comfort and happinesse wherein the soule finds most content, that must needs be the greatest euill of all, but sinne onely deprives a mā of the greatest good: for the good ⟨p. 16⟩of the soule is, to have an heart united unto God and to have fellowship with him, to have him & salvation through him, to be one with the Lord: this is the chiefest good of the soule: All things here below are made for the good of the body, and the body is made for the good of the soule, and the soule is made for God; and these things here below are only so farre good to us, as they are meanes to make us enjoy a nearer communion with God; and contrarily, riches, and honours, and profits, and pleasures, are as so many curses to us, if by them our hearts be withdrawne from God: The reason why God is estranged from us, it is not because we are poore, or pursued, or imprisoned, or the like; but it is sin that breakes the union betweene God and us, as the prophet Esay saith, Your sinnes have separated betweene you and your God: