A41331:233
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
THE Real Christian, OR, A Treatise of Effectual Calling. › Chapter 3: Of Conviction.
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.
Thirdly, What is it that thou enjoyest in thy lusts that God doth not allow thee, remove but inordinacy? Art given to the pot? doth not God allow thee good Beer or Wine? Yes, sure you may have it with a good will, only you must not be inordinate in drinking; you are hugely hurt truly, you may drink and enjoy the comfort of the Creature, and bless your God, but not be drunk, or inordinate in drinking. I have often thought of the Rechabites, Jer. 35. and would choose rather to be Gods Servant, then Jonadab's Son: Doth God lace you so strait as Jonadab did his posterity, not allow them to drink wine, build houses, sow fields, &c.? he allows these things, and much good may they do you, let but him be served while you enjoy them, and good reason why it should be so. Art a slave to thy unclean lust, that imperious and God-despising Devil? [Because thou hast despised me, 2 Sam. 12.12.] I pity thee; whose hands are bands, Eccles. 7.26. much stronger then the Philistines seven green Withs or new Ropes, wherewith they bound Sampson, Judg. 16.7, 11. Ah, Sampson was faster bound with unseen Cords: But ⟨p. 60⟩hath not God allowed thy own Cistern, the Marriage-bed, which being sanctified by prayer, may be sufficient through his Mercy to quench this thirst? What the vileness of the heart is, when it is hedged in by the Commandment of God, here you must keep, is known too well, Rom. 7.8. If the temptation lye there, the wind blow in that quarter, if God steps not in with his power, and interpose not between thy lust and temptation, it is not thy Yoke-fellow, thine own Cistern, but stolen waters that must quench this thirst, nor will they quench it, but inflame the more. O satisfy us with mercy, prayed Moses, Psal. 90. so I say, thy Wife and Mercy will satisfy, thy Husband and Mercy will satisfy; but if Mercy be not joined, and the Temptation blow strong, thou art gone, let thy Wife or Husband be persons never so likely to give content in the opinion of others.