The Sincere Convert

Thirdly,¹ those that never came to be sensible of their poverty & utter emptiness of all good: for so long as a man hath a penny in his purse (that is) feels any good in himself, he will never come a begging unto Jesus Christ, and therefore rests in himself: Now didst thou never feel thy self in this manner poor, viz. I am as ignorant as any beast, as vile as any devil; O Lord, what a nest and litter of sin and rebellion lurks in my heart. I once thought at least, mine heart and desires were good, but now I feel no spiritual life. Oh! dead heart, I am the poorest, vilest, basest, and blindest creature that ⟨p. 250⟩ever lived. If thou doest not thus feel thy self poor, thou never camest out of thy duties, For when the Lord bringeth any man to Christ, he bringeth him empty, that so he may make him be holding to Christ for every farthing token.²

Thirdly,¹ those that never came to be sensible of their poverty & utter emptinesse of all good: for so long as a man hath a penny in his purse (that is) feeles any good in himselfe, he will never come a begging unto Jesus Christ, and therefore rests in himselfe: Now didst thou never feele thy selfe in this manner poore, viz. I am as ignorant as any beast, as vile as any devill; O Lord, what a neast and litter of sin and rebellion lurks in my heart. I once thought at least, mine heart and desires were good, but now I feele no spirituall life. Oh! dead heart, I am the poorest, vilest, basest, and blindest creature that ⟨p. 250⟩ever lived. If thou doest not thus feele thy selfe poore, thou never camest out of thy duties, For when the Lord bringeth any man to Christ, he bringeth him empty, that so he may make him be holding to Christ for every farthing token.²

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