The unbelievers preparing for Christ. By T.HThe vnbeleevers preparing for Christ. By T.H

now all means, as the Word, and the like is outward, and can do no good in this kind, they cannot break the union between a mans heart and his corruptions, unless God give a blessing to these means, unless the Lord by his Almighty power and infinite wisdom make a separation between sin and the soul, and dissolve this union. The soul saith, I will have my sin, and I will have my life, and I will have my God, though I die for it, there is a strong league […] between the heart of a sinner and his lusts, […] therefore all outward means cannot possibly break this league; look as it is wi•h a strong stomach, if you give it any ordinary meat the strength of the stomach is above the meat, and turns the meat into the nature of it self, •o it is with a corrupt heart that hath made a league […] his lusts, all outward means and of […] God, a corrupt heart converts them and […] them aside to his everlasting destruction; the instrumental cause is always under the […] ⟨p. 140⟩the soul of a man is a sovereign commander, this way all outward means are but instrumental m• ses, and the heart of a man is above them, and therefore they may as well •arden a man as soften his heart, and humble his soul; a man can receive no good thereby unless it please God to overpower this distemper that is in a man, and break the near union and firm league that is between sin and the soul.

now all meanes, as the Word, and the like is outward, and can doe no good in this kind, they cannot break the union betweene a mans heart and his corruptions, unlesse God give a blessing to these meanes, unlesse the Lord by his Almighty power and infinite wisedome make a separation betweene sinne and the soule, and dissolve this union. The soule saith, I will have my sinne, and I will have my life, and I will have my God, though I die for it, there is a strong league 〈…〉 betweene the heart of a sinner and his lusts, 〈…〉 therefore all outward meanes cannot possibly breake this league; looke as it is wi•h a strong stomack, if you give it any ordinary meate the strength of the stomake is above the meate, and turnes the meate into the nature of it selfe, o it is with a corrupt heart that hath made a league his lusts, all outward meanes and of God, a corrupt heart converts them and them aside to his everlasting destruction; the instrumentall cause is alwayes under the