The dead saint speaking to saints and sinners living in several treatisesThe dead saint speaking to saints and sinners living in severall treatises

That which kept the Prodigal from his Father, was not the Opinion of any worthiness in himself; he saw he was poor and ready to famish; but he thought he could recover himself, live of himself, without the help of a Father. And this conceit kept him off.

That which kept the Prodigal from his Father, was not the Opinion of any worthiness in himself; hee saw hee was poor and ready to famish; but hee thought hee could recover himself, live of himself, without the help of a Father. And this conceit kept him off.

So the Woman with the Bloody-Issue. It was not her opinion that she had no need of Christ, which kept her off from coming to Christ, but she thought she was able to purchase help out of her own store, without going to him: And even to the last penny she conceited she should have help, when she had spent all (not before.) Then she came. And, whilst a man hath a conceit, that he is able to work out his own Peace, compass his own happiness; Though he be poor, yet conceits, he is able to enrich himself. Though naked, yet he is able to weave a web of Righteousness, to clothe himself. Though in debt, yet he is able to make payment. Though undone, yet he is able to recover himself. I say, so long as a man hath this conceit; thinks he hath any strength of his own, to wind himself out of the misery, into which he sees himself to be plunged: so long he will never come over to Christ. This conceitedness will keep off the Soul from Christ.

So the Woman with the Bloody-Issue. It was not her opinion that shee had no need of Christ, which kept her off from comming to Christ, but shee thought shee was able to purchase help out of her own store, without going to him: And even to the last penny shee conceited shee should have help, when shee had spent all (not before.) Then shee came. And, whilest a man hath a conceit, that hee is able to work out his own Peace, compass his own happiness; Though hee bee poor, yet conceits, hee is able to inrich himself. Though naked, yet hee is able to weave a web of Righteousness, to cloath himself. Though in debt, yet hee is able to make payment. Though undone, yet hee is able to recover himself. I say, so long as a man hath this conceit; thinks hee hath any strength of his own, to winde himself out of the misery, into which hee sees himself to bee plunged: so long hee will never come over to Christ. This conceitedness will keep off the Soul from Christ.