The Soul's Preparation for Christ

Now this kind of knowledge takes away all shifts, that the soul hath nothing to say for it self, and plucks away all defence, that the edge of the word cannot be blunted, but that it will fall flat on the heart, this is that I would put to your consideration punctually; When there is that wisdom and knowledge revealed to the ⟨p. 28⟩soul so powerfully, that it prevails with the heart, and it gives way thereto, so that all the replies and pleas of the soul be taken away, and the soul falls under the stroke of the word, not quarrelling, but yielding it self, that the word may work upon it, and withal there is a restless amazement put into the heart of the creature, and a kind of dazzling the eye, so that the soul is not content now before it see the worst of his sin that is revealed, and then it lies under the power of that truth which is made known, these two make it plain; The minister saith, God hates such and such a sinner; and the Lord hates me too, saith the soul, for I am guilty of that sin. Many times when a sinner comes into the congregation, and attends unto the ordinary means of salvation, if now the Lord be pleased to work mightily, at last the mind is enlightened, and the Minister meets with his corruptions, as though he were in his bosom, and he answereth all his cavils, and takes away all his objections; With that the soul begins to be amazed to think that God should meet with him in this manner, and saith, If this be so, as it is for ought I know, and if all be true that the Minister saith, then the Lord be merciful unto my soul, I am the most miserable sinner that ever was borne.

Now this kind of knowledge takes away all shifts, that the soule hath nothing to say for it selfe, and pluckes away all defence, that the edge of the word cannot be blunted, but that it will fall flat on the heart, this is that I would put to your consideration punctually; When there is that wisedome and knowledge revealed to the ⟨p. 28⟩soule so powerfully, that it prevailes with the heart, and it gives way thereto, so that all the replies and pleas of the soule be taken away, and the soule falls under the stroke of the word, not quarrelling, but yeelding it selfe, that the word may worke upon it, and withall there is a restlesse amasement put into the heart of the creature, and a kind of dazeling the eye, so that the soule is not content now before it see the worst of his sinne that is revealed, and then it lies under the power of that truth which is made knowne, these two make it plaine; The minister saith, God hates such and such a sinner; and the Lord hates me too, saith the soule, for I am guilty of that sin. Many times when a sinner comes into the congregation, and attends unto the ordinary meanes of salvation, if now the Lord be pleased to work mightily, at last the mind is enlightned, and the Minister meets with his corruptions, as though he were in his bosome, and he answereth all his cavills, and takes away all his objections; With that the soule begins to be amased to thinke that God should meet with him in this manner, and saith, If this be so, as it is for ought I know, and if all be true that the Minister saith, then the Lord be mercifull unto my soule, I am the most miserable sinner that ever was borne.