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

First, That sadness and fears should seize upon a person when he comes to see himself under that woeful state of sin and misery, is this such a wonder? Is this irrational? Wouldst thou not have rational mirth? Then thou art a fool indeed. What were you never sad in all your life? Were you ever upon the merry pin? To meet with that man who was never in his dumps, as you phrase it, is a strange sight; if ever sad, it was upon some evil apprehended: But, I pray, compare that evil with the evil of sin and misery thou art under by Nature, and see which is worst: Was it rational for you to be sad under an evil, infinitely less, and is it irrational to be sad under this? Why then do you stumble?

First, That sadness and fears should seize upon a person when he comes to see himself under that woful state of sin and misery, is this such a wonder? Is this irrational? Wouldst thou not have rational mirth? Then thou art a fool indeed. What were you never sad in all your life? Were you ever upon the merry pin? To meet with that man who was never in his dumps, as you phrase it, is a strange sight; if ever sad, it was upon some evil apprehended: But, I pray, compare that evil with the evil of sin and misery thou art under by Nature, and see which is worst: Was it rational for you to be sad under an evil, infinitely less, and is it irrational to be sad under this? Why then do you stumble?

Secondly, There is some mourning under the sense of sin, which if you were acquainted with, you would not be ⟨p. 66⟩shy of it, but you would think it a mercy of God if you could attain more of it. Christians pray for a broken spirit, and would bless God for such a kindness.

Thirdly, Choose you which of these two you will, a mourning time must be for sin, either here or hereafter, there is no avoiding it; if your mourning begin hereafter, you will not be in capacity of that Promise, He will wipe away all tears from their eyes,