(2) The plough pierces deep into the bosom of the earth, makes (as it were) a deep gash or wound in the heart of it. So doth the Spirit upon the hearts of Sinners, he pierces their very souls by conviction, Act. 2. 37. When they heard this they were pricked (or pierced point blank)1 to the heart. Then the word divides the soul and Spirit, Heb. 4. 12. It comes upon the conscience with such pinching dilemma's, and tilts the sword of conviction so deep into their souls, that there is no stenching the blood, no healing this wound, till Christ himself come and undertake the cure. H•re• lateri lethalis arundo; this barbed arrow cannot be pulled out of their hearts by any but the hand that shot it in. Discourse with such a soul about his troubles, and he will tell you, that all the sorrows that ever he had in this world, loss of estate, health, children, or whatever else, are but flea-bitings to this; this swallows up all other troubles. See how that Christian Niobe, Luke 7. 38. is dissolved into tears. N•w deep calleth unto deep at the noise of his water spouts, when the waves and billows of God go over the soul. Spiritual sorrows are deep waters, in which ⟨p. 65⟩the stoutest and most magnanimous soul would sink and drown, did not Jesus Christ by a secret and supporting hand, hold it up by the chin.
(2) The plow pierces deep into the bosome of the earth, makes (as it were) a deep gash or wound in the heart of it. So doth the Spirit upon the hearts of Sinners, he pierces their very souls by conviction, Act. 2. 37. When they heard this they were pricked (or pierced point blank)1 to the heart. Then the word divides the soul and Spirit, Heb. 4. 12. It comes upon the conscience with such pinching dilemma's, and tilts the sword of conviction so deep into their souls, that there is no stenching the bloud, no healing this wound, till Christ himself come and undertake the cure. H•re• lateri lethalis arundo; this barbed arrow cannot be pulled out of their hearts by any but the hand that shot it in. Discourse with such a soul about his troubles, and he will tell you, that all the sorrows that ever he had in this world, loss of estate, health, children, or whatever else, are but flea-bitings to this; this swallows up all other troubles. See how that Christian Niobe, Luke 7. 38. is dissolved into tears. N•w deep calleth unto deep at the noise of his water spouts, when the waves and billows of God go over the soul. Spiritual sorrows are deep waters, in which ⟨p. 65⟩the stoutest and most magnanimous soul would sink and drown, did not Iesus Christ by a secret and supporting hand, hold it up by the chin.
- 1[Greek or Hebrew] punctim cedo pungendo penetro.〈non-Latin alphabet〉 punctim cedo pungendo penetro.
