A41331:117
The real Christian, or, A treatise of effectual calling wherein the work of God…
The real Christian, or, A treatise of effectual calling wherein the work of God is drawing the soul to Christ ... : to which is added, in the epistle to the reader, a few words concerning Socinianism ... / by Giles Firmin ...The real Christian, or, A treatise of effectual calling wherein the work of God is drawing the soul to Christ ... : to which is added, in the epistle to the reader, a few words concerning Socinianisme ... / by Giles Firmin ...
London: printed for Dorman Newman, 1670
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
To return to our question, When was the time of Preparing these Infants for Christ? It would be hard for Samuel, Timothy, and divers others in Scripture [for the most of those who are mentioned for godly men in Scripture, were so from their youth, for ought we can find] Obadiah, Josiah, to find this preparing time, when they were so humbled, to be quiet without Gods love, content to be at Gods disposing for damnation, yea, or for legal terrors: I know full well that those who thus are educated, do find both legal fears, and sorrows also, but not as preparative to faith, (which is our question) for they were regenerated before. Sometimes in the children of wicked men, such (at least) as we cannot judge to be godly, there do such things appear, that we must judge certainly God hath wrought some good work in them: We read of Abijah, 11 Kings 14.13. There was some good in him: how old he was I know not; but very young he was; whether he had this preparing time is hard to prove. To say then there is such a Rule laid down for preparative works, 2that every one must pass through, before they can be regenerated, or have faith, I cannot yet be convinced of it; unless you can tell me how Infants can be prepared, according to Mr. Shepherd's method.
To return to our question, When was the time of Preparing these Infants for Christ? It would be hard for Samuel, Timothy, and divers others in Scripture [for the most of those who are mentioned for godly men in Scripture, were so from their youth, for ought we can find] Obadiah, Josiah, to find this preparing time, when they were so humbled, to be quiet without Gods love, content to be at Gods disposing for damnation, yea, or for legal terrors: I know full well that those who thus are educated, do find both legal fears, and sorrows also, but not as preparative to faith, (which is our question) for they were regenerated before. Sometimes in the children of wicked men, such (at least) as we cannot judge to be godly, there do such things appear, that we must judge certainly God hath wrought some good work in them: We read of Abijah, 11 Kings 14.13