The Soules Preparation for Christ

p. 1THE SOVLES PREPARATION FOR CHRIST.

Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their hearts, and said to Peter and the other Apostles, Men and brethren, what shall wee doe to bee saved?

IN this great worke of preparation for Christ, Observe two things. First, the dispensation of the worke of Grace on Gods part, he pulls a sinner from sinne to himselfe; & Secondly, the frame and temper of spirit that God workes in the hearts of those, that he doth draw: and that makes its selfe knowne in two particulars; partly p. 2in Contrition, partly in humiliation; For our better proceeding in the prosecution of these two maine points, I shall handle them severally, and at large. And first we will sift out what this Contrition and humiliation is, that we may not deceive our selves, and thinke we have them, when it is nothing so.

[What contrition is.] This Contrition (as I conceive) is nothing else, but namely when a sinner by the sight of sinne, and vilenesse of it, and the punishment due to the same, is made sensible of sinne, and is made to hate it, and hath his heart separated from the same; and the sight of sin makes it selfe knowne in three particulars: First, when the soule is sensible of sinne; Secondly, when it hath a hearty and sound sorrow for the same, and an earnest detestation of it. Thirdly, when he hath his heart separated from his corruptions. All these are not wrought, so much by any power that is in us, as by the Almighty power of God working in us; for the sinner would not see his sin, but the Lord forceth him, as the holy Prophet saith: [Psal. 74.4.] Thou holdest my eyes waking, I am so troubled that I cannot speake, the Lord holds sinne to a carnall sinfull wretch, so that his sinne walkes, and sleepeth, and goeth with him; nay the soule of a poore sinner would beat backe the blow, and would not have the word to touch him, he labours to shift off the arrowes of the Almighty, which the Lord shooteth into the soule; but the Lord will not suffer him so to doe; Thy arrowes sticke fast in me▪ and thy hand presseth me sore. [Psal. 38.2.] Psalm. 38.2. As if the p. 3Prophet had said, I would faine have beate backe thine arrowes, but they sticke fast in me; and I would have shaken off the burden, that lay upon me, but thine hand presseth me sore, so then at last, when the sinner sees, hee cannot shake off the arrowes, then he is content to bee separate from his corruptions.

p. 3This is in generall in the text, wherin you shall plainly see these three particulars fully expressed.

First, the sight of sinne by the hearing of Peters words, and it was not by the bare hearing of his words onely, but when Peter came somewhat roundly home to them, and said; This is Christ Iesus whom ye have crucified, then followes the former worke, namely, the acknowledgement of their sinnes, and the first cause that made them see their sinne, was a particular application of their sinnes, hee came punctually and particularly to them, and said, you are they that have crucified the Lord Christ, this touched them and made them see their sinnes.

Secondly, the daily and serious meditation and apprehension of their sinnes, and of those truths, which were delivered in the word: hearing, that is, daily pondering and considering of the evills, that were committed by them and shewed to them.

Thirdly, they were pricked, they did not pricke themselves, but the Lord followed that truth that was delivered, and by his Almighty hand did make that word prosperous to their soules; and p. 4though they would not pierce themselves, yet the Lord pierced them.

The second part of it is in these words, They were pricked in their hearts, not in their hands or eyes, but in their hearts.

The third part is the separation from sin in these words, Men and brethren, what shall we doe? Whatsoever you would have us to doe, we will doe it, and whatsoever sinne is forbidden, wee are content to be rid of it; nay, nothing was too hard, or too much for them.

Give mee leave to take a doctrine by the way from the words; they when they heard this, who were these (they?) see this in the 36. verse, them that had crucified the Lord of life.

What will some say, is it possible that ever they should be so pierced frō their sinnes? it was said of Iudas that betrayed Christ, it had been good for that man that he had not beene borne, What shall we thinke of those that murther Christ. If Iudas was damned for betraying of Christ? then much more they for killing of him. Is it possible the Lord should doe good unto them, yes, even they came to be pricked in their hearts.

p. 4[Doctrine] From these words this doctrine ariseth; It is possible for the most stubborne sinners upon earth to get a broken heart. They that stoned the Prophets and killed them that were sent unto them, and sleighted all the meanes of grace, they that refused Christ, and would not heare him; they are now brought upon their knees, and are resolved now, if any course might bee taken to get Christ and p. 5mercy. Titus. 12.13. one of their owne Prophets said, the Cretians are alwayes lyers, evill beasts, and slow bellies: a man would thinke it a vaine thing to medle with them, they are such desperate wretches, but the text saith, Reprove them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, so that a Cretian which is a filthy beast, by a sound reproose, may come to bee a glorious Saint: and whereas the Jewes had loaden the Lord with their sinnes; therefore it was just with God to ease himselfe of his burden, and so send them and their sinnes downe to hell together. Thus a man would think; but the Lord did not so, as we may see in Esay, I am he, [Esay 45.23.2 • .] that blotteth out all thy transgressions, for my owne name sake, I will remember your sinnes no more, and as the Apostle saith, [Rom. 29.30.] the Gentiles were full of all unrighteousnesse, worse then they almost could be for all kind of degrees of sinne, and yet many of them became full of all holinesse; Such were some of you (saith the Apostle) and in another place we may see that a Scarlet sinner may become a Saint in nature; [Esay 7. 18.] we know this scarlet is such a deepe die, that all the art under heaven cannot alter it: Yet the Lord can make of a Scarlet sinner, a milke white Saint. I doe not say it will ever be, and it doth alwaies come to passe, but it is possible.