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

Seventh Position. To work a man under preparatory works, to be as good a Christian as he is, when he is actually united to Christ, seems very strange.

When Mr. Hooker preached those Sermons about the Souls preparation for Christ, and Humiliation, my Father-in-law, Mr. Nath. Ward, told him; Mr. Hooker, you make as good Christians before men are in Christ, as ever they are after; and wished, would I were but as good a Christian now, as you make men while they are but preparing for Christ. But he told him the reason why he thought God let him thus preach, because he saw he had not long to stand, and so should do his work all at once. Let but one observe well Mr. Shepherd's preparatory work, and I think we shall find a Christian with a good measure of Grace: in my Letter to him I said, I thought it strange that such an Act of Grace, or Obedience (supposing it to be so, which yet I do not, till I see a Command for it) should be performed by a person under a preparatory work to Christ, then which, I knew none greater could be performed by one who is in Christ; for a man to be so subject to the Justice and Sovereignty of God, that if he will deny him his love, work no grace, dispose of him to damnation, he is yet quiet, contented; I knew no Act of self-denial in the Gospel like it; yet this is under the preparatory work of humiliation. To this he answers: I do not think this is the highest measure of grace (as you hint) any further, then as any peculiar work of the Spirit is high; for upon a narrow enquiry, it is far different from that readiness of Paul and Moses, out of a principle of love to Christ, to wish themselves anathematized for Israels sake; which is a high pitch indeed.

When Mr. Hooker preached those Sermons about the Souls preparation for Christ, and Humiliation, my Father-in-law, Mr. Nath. Ward, told him; Mr. Hooker, you make as good Christians before men are in Christ, as ever they are after; and wished, would I were but as good a Christian now, as you make men while they are but preparing for Christ. But he told him the reason why he thought God let him thus preach, because he saw he had not long to stand, and so should do his work all at once. Let but one observe well Mr. Shepherd's preparatory work, and I think we shall find a Christian with a good measure of Grace: in my Letter to him I said, I thought it strange that such an Act of Grace, or Obedience (supposing it to be so, which yet I do not, till I see a Command for it) should be performed by a person under a preparatory work to Christ, then which, I knew none greater could be performed by one who is in Christ; for a man to be so subject to the Justice and Soveraignty of God, that if he will deny him his love, work no grace, dispose of him to damnation, he is yet quiet, contented; I knew no Act of self-denial in the Gospel like it; yet this is under the preparatory work of humiliation. To this he answers: I do not think this is the highest measure of grace (as you hint) any further, then as any peculiar work of the Spirit is high; for upon a narrow enquiry, it is far different from that readiness of Paul and Moses, out of a principle of love to Christ, to wish themselves anathematized for Israels sake; which is a high pitch indeed.