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

They that read our English practical Divines, either they do not mind what they read, or understand not what they read, (the case of too many I fear.) If they do understand, they believe not what they read; if they believe, they apply not what they read: If they do understand, believe, apply, and experience all they read in several Books of our eminent Divines, (I speak not of all, for some write so, that they leave nothing for Christians to stumble at) then the Christians in England are much richer in Grace than I took them to be, and much stronger than as you I find them to be: but if they understand, believe, and cannot experience what they read, then they must needs meet with those troubles which others have done, unless upon examining their works by the holy Scriptures they have found ease, because they have found their works in those particulars which did cause their troubles, not to agree ⟨image 7⟩with holy Writ: To the Law and to the Testimony, if they speak not according to this Word, Isai. 8.20. is a standing Rule, and blessed he God we have this to judge by. Of these Books, some respect the Constitution of a Christian, some the Conversation of a Christian constituted. The first sort are those, which have caused the most trouble; some in the preparation of the Soul for Christ, amongst which are the Works of the eminent Servants-of Christ, Mr. Thomas Hooker, and Mr. Thomas Shepherd. Others in the work of Faith, or the closing of the Soul with Christ, amongst whom chiefly is the reverend Mr. Daniel Rogers, As for that trouble, which the holy men of God, Mr. Perkins, Mr. John Rogers of Dedham, with our ancient Divines, have caused, through their description of Faith, that begins to be removed in great part, our late Divines having cleared out the work of Faith, in that manner, as it was not understood before: but for the former, I meet with none as yet that have spoken to them, though their Works in those particulars have caused great troubles among Christians, who through the high respects they bear to the persons of these men, being holy and eminent, have believed what they write must needs be the Truth of God in every particular.

THey that read our English practical Divines, either they do not mind what they read, or understand not what they read, (the case of too many I fear.) If they do understand, they believe not what they read; if they believe, they apply not what they read: If they do understand, believe, apyly, and experience all they read in several Books of our eminent Divines, (I speak not of all, for some write so, that they leave nothing for Christians to stumble at) then the Christians in England are much richer in Grace than I took them to be, and much stronger than as you I find them to be: but if they understand, believe, and cannot experience what they read, then they must needs meet with those troubles which others have done, unless upon examining their works by the holy Scriptures they have found ease, because they have found their works in those particulars which did cause their troubles, not to agree