A03611:95
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.
Give me leave to open a passage or two this way; Suppose there be an ignorant creature, that knoweth nothing, and he thinks God will pardon him because he is so, & he need not consider of this or that which the minister calls upon him ⟨p. 29⟩for: see what God saith to such,1 in Isaiah. It is a people of no understanding, therefore he that made him will not have mercy on them, and he that formed them will show them no favour: You think to carry all away with ignorance, but the God of heaven will show you no pity, and he that made you will not save you; When a poor soul begins to consider of this, he that made us, will save us, Will he not? no, he will not; Not one of you, not your wife, nor children, nor thy servant; this drives the soul into amazement, when the Lord works this truth in him, and he frequents the ordinances more diligently, and says, if it be so, my case is fearful; In conclusion he finds every minister saith so, and all writings confirm it, and he seeth it is so indeed; and it is the will and way of God: Then the soul is cast, and saith, I see this is just my estate and condition & therefore woe to me that ever I was borne. This is right conviction, and though his carnal neighbours come to him, and begin to cheer him up, and say, The Lord is more merciful then men are, ministers must say something, &c. If the heart be truly convicted, it returns this answer, and saith; I have thought as you do, but now I see there is no such matter, these are but figtree-leaves, and will not cover my nakedness; It is true, Christ came to save sinners, and he came to humble sinners too, he came to bind up the heart, and he came to break the heart too. This is a great part of the spirit of bondage spoken of Rom. 8.15. We have not received the spirit of bondage to fear again. When ⟨p. 30⟩God hath revealed a mans bondage to him: So that sees he himself bound hand & foot, for (mark it) so long as a man keeps in these carnal shifts, he is not in bondage; But when he is once in bondage and fettered; he saith, If ever any had a proud heart, I am he, If ever any were profane, I am he; And if ever God hated such wretches, he hateth me. Now there is no escape, there is no plea at all, he will not go away & say, there is no such matter, Ministers many say what they will.