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

If any should tell me, the way you speak of here that Christians should take in resisting temptation, is not the right way, that is, To run to our Arguments; we should by Faith go to Christ. I know it full well: This is not a ⟨p. 41⟩place for me to treat about that: But, I hope, our going to Christ by Faith, and improving spiritual Reasons against lusts and temptations, do not oppose one another: The question is, how doth Christ convey his strength to the Soul, acting upon him by Faith in such a time: The giving of the Answer to that. Question would soon take off the Objection: But this is not a proper place for it.

To return to our Heads: It is this discovery of God to the Soul, which make sin, guilt, and creature appear like themselves. We read in the new Covenant, this is one branch of it, They shall know the Lord, Jer. 31.34. Hos. 2.20. Jer. 24.7. Why, did not Israel know God now? Ask Israel, What is God? Israel will tell you, as many Children can from their Catechism. Yea, but this same Covenant-knowledge of God is another thing; not as if the meaning were only, they shall know God to be their God; that is another thing different from this: There is many a poor Christian, that knows God with a Covenant knowledge, that cannot say, I know him to be my God: Eternal purpose towards the elect now breaking forth, and his intention being to draw the elect Vessels into Covenant, the Lord beginneth the fulfilling of this Promise, some beams of that Majesty are let in, and now take that wanton heart which played with sin before, what sayest to sin now? doest thou see him against whom this sin rebels? Now take the profane heart, that could jest at, and scorn such Ministers and Sermons which told him of the wrath of God (as that profane Poet, abusing of a reverend Divine, upon this account, calls him, the Geneva Bull-Hell and Damnation a Pulpit full.) But what sayest now to the everlasting burnings, and devouring fire?