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

I know this counsel will not take with a carnal heart, though it be that which converted Souls daily follow God for, to have themselves, Sins and Creatures opened and discovered unto them as they are: Let Sin be Sin, and Creature be Creature, and let me see the misery of being a slave to Sin and the Creature, as I feel my self enslaved too much unto these daily. But for others, I know they like it not; And what is the matter? Alas this would spoil all the sport; should we once have Sin, guilt, and our misery discovered, we must never see merry day after; and that which we fear, must follow, our Lovers and we must part; and that we find a hard thing, yea, impossible, to bid farewell to those lusts, companions and ways, which have brought us in so much pleasure and profit in our days. These or such like were the thoughts of him, who would not hear Doctor Sibbs, for fear he should convert him, he said.

I know this counsel will not take with a carnal heart, though it be that which converted Souls daily follow God for, to have themselves, Sins and Creatures opened and discovered unto them as they are: Let Sin be Sin, and Creature be Creature, and let me see the misery of being a slave to Sin and the Creature, as I feel my self enslaved too much unto these daily. But for others, I know they like it not; And what is the matter? Alas this would spoil all the sport; should we once have Sin, guilt, and our misery discovered, we must never see merry day after; and that which we fear, must follow, our Lovers and we must part; and that we find a hard thing, yea, impossible, to bid farewell to those lusts, companions and wayes, which have brought us in so much pleasure and profit in our dayes. These or such like were the thoughts of him, who would not hear Doctor Sibbs, for fear he should convert him, he said.

We have been before you, and know your Objections very well, having had the same thoughts in our own hearts against the work of God, which you have now uttered, and so can tell the better what answer to give. I know it to be a frequent Objection made against the work of God, That it makes men melancholy, mopish, if not mad. I heard it once my self, being in company amongst some Gentlemen and Scholars; one of whom God had pulled out; and being now under this work, the discovery of his sinful and miserable estate, was dejected, being before cheerful, and too too vain in his mirth, now was as sad; the other Gentlemen, his Companions, threw this in his teeth presently, this is the fruit of your Religion; when once men begin to be Puritans, they must loose all their mirth and cheerfulness; now nothing but mopishness, sadness, and sour faces, and were much offended.