by Thomas Hooker
in ePub, .mobi & .pdf formats
Being a Treatise of Contrition. In which is revealed how God breaks the heart and wounds the soul, in the conversion of a sinner to himself.
Formatted, modernized, corrected, annotated, and reorganized, with additional subheadings, transitions, revised numbering by William H. Gross www.onthewing.org © Mar 2021
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise. Psalm 51:17
In this great work of preparation for Christ, observe two things: first, the dispensation of the work of grace on God’s part ─ he pulls a sinner from sin to Himself; and secondly, the frame and temper of spirit that God works in the hearts of those whom he draws. And that makes itself known in two particulars: partly in contrition, partly in humiliation. To better proceed in the prosecution of these two main points, I will handle them separately and at large. And first, we will sift out what this CONTRITION and HUMILIATION are, so that we may not deceive ourselves, and think we have them, when it is nothing so.
What Contrition Is
This contrition (as I conceive it) is namely, when a sinner by the sight of sin and its vileness and the punishment due for it; is made sensible of sin and made to hate it; and has his heart separated from it. And so, the sight of sin makes itself known in these three particulars:
First, when the soul is sensible of sin.
Secondly, when it has a hearty and sound sorrow for it, and an earnest detestation of it.
Thirdly, when he has his heart separated from his corruptions.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
What Contrition Is
What the true sight of sin is.
Property 1. Seeing sin clearly.
What a horrible thing sin is
Why Men don’t see the vileness of sin.
Property 2. Seeing sin convictingly.
There must be a sight of our personal, particular sins.
The Conscience of a sinner must yield to what is known.
Why God convinces men of their sins.
Three means to see sin convictingly.
Means 1: Go to God for Knowledge.
Means 2: Acquaint Yourself with God and His Law.
Means 3. An ignorant heart cannot be but a naughty heart.
Shift 1. The soul labors to beat back the power of the Word.
Shift 2. Thinking whatever falls out, it won’t fall on us.
Shift 3. We resolve to bear the consequences.
Why men’s hearts are not worked upon in the Ministry.
How to profit in hearing the Word preached
A Naughty Heart Revealed
How to know whether we hate sin.
What meditation is.
Ground 1. Meditation brings sin home to the heart.
Ground 2. Meditation fastens sin on the Conscience.
How to meditate on sins rightly.
FIRST, consider the grounds on which meditation must be raised.
Ground 1. Labor to see God’s mercy, goodness, and patience.
Ground 2. Consider God’s Justice.
Ground 3. Consider the heinous nature of your sins.
Ground 4. Consider the cost of sin.
SECONDLY. Three ways to drive the evil of sin home to the heart.
1. Let the heart feel the evil of sin.
2. Keep the heart in the sense of the evil of sin.
3. Keep the soul in such a consideration of sin, that it seeks pardon for it.
Seeking Comfort in Christ Alone
Grounds for stubbornly rejecting Christ.
The Pricking of the Heart – Sound Sorrow.
The Cause and Effects of Sorrow
FIRST. How the Lord works this sorrow into the soul.
God’s Purposes for Sorrow
The Soul Under Godly Sorrow
SECONDLY. The behavior of a pierced soul.
THIRDLY. Three Reasons Why Sin Wounds Us
FOURTHLY. Some Questions to be answered.
What preparative sorrow is.
What sorrow in sanctification is.
FIFTHLY. How to help forward this work, once begun.
Not all who are broken-hearted, take the Water of Life.
Not all alike are wounded for sin.
How to act towards those wounded for their sins.
Three means by which the heart is brought to sound sorrow.
The fruits of godly sorrow
Ground 1. Labor to see God’s mercy, goodness, and patience.
Ground 2. Consider God’s Justice.
Ground 3. Consider the heinous nature of your sins.
Ground 4. Consider the cost of sin.
SECONDLY. Three ways to drive the evil of sin home to the heart.
1. Let the heart feel the evil of sin.
2. Keep the heart in the sense of the evil of sin.
3. Keep the soul in such a consideration of sin, that it seeks pardon for it.
Seeking Comfort in Christ Alone
Grounds for stubbornly rejecting Christ.
The Pricking of the Heart – Sound Sorrow.
The Cause and Effects of Sorrow
FIRST. How the Lord works this sorrow into the soul.
God’s Purposes for Sorrow
The Soul Under Godly Sorrow
SECONDLY. The behavior of a pierced soul.
THIRDLY. Three Reasons Why Sin Wounds Us
FOURTHLY. Some Questions to be answered.
What preparative sorrow is.
What sorrow in sanctification is.
FIFTHLY. How to help forward this work, once begun.
Not all who are broken-hearted, take the Water of Life.
Not all alike are wounded for sin.
How to act towards those wounded for their sins.
Three means by which the heart is brought to sound sorrow.
The fruits of godly sorrow
Two reasons why God limits our shaking.
Three means to maintain our hope.
Differences between a true and false confession of sin.
When a man is bound to confess his sin.
What is Popish Confession of sin.
To hide our sins, is a fearful sin.
To whom we should confess our sins.
What a distaste and dislike of sin is.
Hatred of sin in PREPARATION.
Hatred of sin in SANCTIFICATION.
What true hatred of sin consists in.
The reason this is so.
How to know your heart is truly broken for sin.