The real Christian, or, A treatise of effectual calling wherein the work of God…

The reason of my laying this Position thus is this; Reverend Mr. Shepherd, ¹in answering of Objections made against the Doctrine of Compunction, from mens experiences, who have proved good Christians without such compunction, saith, Many thousands are miserably deceived about their estates by this one thing, of crooking and wresting Gods Rule to Christians experiences, p. 53. then gives this Caution, In this work of Compunction we must not bring Rules to men, but men to Rules, p. 52.

1. 1Sound Believer p. 52, 53.

What Christians are these this holy man means? If they be Christians of a late edition, when Religion was in fashion, and the fairest Card for a man to play his game with, if he meant to rise; such as might have motions upon their affections, whilst the dainties of the Gospel were dished out, and set before them, as in those times nothing but chemical notions in Divinity would down with many palates, and now had their tongues tipped with Discourses of Free-grace, and some Opinions which served their interest: If these be the Christians he means, I think they are miserably deceived indeed, who make such mens experiences a mark for them to go by: Yea, if he mean others, who had compunction, felt legal terrors, were cast down, and after raised up with much comfort, by the Spirits application [as they apprehended] of an absolute promise to their souls; truly I will not make these mens experiences a Rule for me to go by, though they had their compunctions, and joys also; I pray God give me better faith, or else it will go sadly with me; I will hardly give them two pence for theirs, if they could sell it, for all their compunctions.

What Christians are these this holy man means? If they be Christians of a late edition, when Religion was in fashion, and the fairest Card for a man to play his game with, if he meant to rise; such as might have motions upon their affections, whilst the dainties of the Gospel were disht out, and set before them, as in those times nothing but chymical notions in Divinity would down with many palates, and now had their tongues tipt with Discourses of Free-grace, and some Opinions which served their interest: If these be the Christians he means, I think they are miserably deceived indeed, who make such mens experiences a mark for them to go by: Yea, if he mean others, who had compunction, felt legal terrors, were cast down, and after raised up with much comfort, by the Spirits application [as they apprehended] of an absolute promise to their souls; truly I will not make these mens experiences a Rule for me to go by, though they had their compunctions, and joys also; I pray God give me better faith, or else it will go sadly with me; I will hardly give them two pence for theirs, if they could sell it, for all their compunctions.