A03611:79
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.
1Thirdly, because it is sin that doth procure ⟨p. 17⟩all plagues and punishments to the damned, and therefore being the cause why they suffer, it must needs be greater then all punishments: for all punishments are made miserable by reason of sin, therefore sin is a greater evil then all the miseries of the damned. If a man were in prison and had the peace of a good Conscience, his prison would be a palace unto him, and though a man were in shame and disgrace, and yet have the favour of God, there were no misery in him, so it is with sin; if no man suffer but for sin, then sin is a greater evil then all other punishments, as being the fountain from whence they flow.
1Thirdly, because it is sinne that doth procure ⟨p. 17⟩all plagues and punishments to the damned, and therefore being the cause why they suffer, it must needs be greater then all punishments: for all punishments are made miserable by reason of sin, therefore sinne is a greater evill then all the miseries of the damned. If a man were in prison and had the peace of a good Conscience, his prison would be a pallace unto him, and though a man were in shame and disgrace, and yet have the favour of God, there were no misery in him, so it is with sinne; if no man suffer but for sinne, then sin is a greater evill then all other punishments, as being the fountaine from whence they flow.
- 1Reason 3.
Now let us look upon sin through these things, and when our corrupt heart provokes us, and the world allure us, & the devil tempts us to take any contentment in a sinful way; suppose we saw hell fire burning before us, and the pit of hell gaping to swallow us, and sin enticing of us, and let us say thus to our souls. It is better for a man to be cast into the torments of hell amongst the damned, then to be overcome with any sin, and so to rebel against the Lord. Now therefore if those plagues and punishments make the soul shake in the consideration of them; Oh then bless thy self so much the more from sin which is the cause all plagues whatsoever; Were a man in hell and wanted his sins, the Lord would love him in hell, and deliver him from all those plagues: But if any man were free from all punishments, and in honour, and wealth, if he were a sinful and wretched creature, the Lord