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

But if by Christians be meant sound Believers, and another's experience do truly answer their experiences in that which is essential to saving faith, I cannot tell how men should be deceived so miserably in this; for the sound Believer doth answer Gods Rule.

But if by Christians be meant sound Believers, and anothers experience do truly answer their experiences in that which is essential to saving faith, I cannot tell how men should be deceived so miserably in this; for the sound Believer doth answer Gods Rule.

Secondly, I grant, there is but one Rule to which all men must conform, who shall go to heaven, i. e. Regeneration, or Faith in Christ, or Conversion: but is there one Rule God hath left, to which all men must conform, and by which they must be tried, as to their preparing for Conversion, or faith in Christ, and that Rule is Compunction? I pray observe, I speak of Compunction as it is preparative, for that is it Mr. Shepherd is upon, and this is the fault he finds with those, who suppose persons can be in Christ, or truly regenerated [it comes to one] unless they be first prepared by Compunction: Now that which is but in preparing, is not yet effected; it is in Motu, Fleri. While the timber is hewing, there is preparing indeed, but there is no house as yet. But then what shall we say to all those whom the Lord Regenerates in their Infancy? I am sure Mr. Shepherd, ¹nor Mr. Hooker [who saith, Certainly God doth work faith in the hearts of all elected Infants that dye in their Infancy] will deny, but God doth regenerate some Infants. If he works faith in all elected Infants that dye, I hope he may as well in elected Infants that live: Have we not very often known Children grow up, and being under the nurturing of godly Parents [especially when a wise, prudent and godly Mother, that knows how to keep her place in government, join with a godly Father] have given evident signs of grace from their Childhood? I have known such families, where all the Children have been godly, and that began in their childhood for ought I could learn. O you Mothers, who are always with your Children in the chamber, at the fire side, and have the advantage to be dropping into them; when your Husbands must be abroad, you may do much towards the saving of your Children's souls, if you be godly, prudent, and know how to keep Authority up. This I have observed, where the Mother hath not been godly and prudent, though the Father be godly, not so much good hath been done: If once the Mother hath lost her Authority, she never, that I saw, did good. We read,