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

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, Revel. 21.4. Take heed your weeping doth not begin there, where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth, Matth. 25.30. but no wiping.

Thirdly, Chuse 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, Revel. 21.4. Take heed your weeping doth not begin there, where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth, Matth. 25.30. but no wiping.

Fourthly, But to ease you a little more; you are mistaken very much in thinking that Religion, in the power of it, only serves to make men mopish and sad, though you do see Christians sometimes dejected. I grant it, when God first deals with the Soul, or if he deserts the Soul, or if he lets it lie under its strong combatings with potent corruptions, and denies to send in answers of prayers, these are sad times with Christians; and is there not cause? The Christian is rational in all this: what Faith may do in such times I deny not; 'tis easy for them to talk of Faith at such times who are not pressed with these loads; but still this is not the fault of Religion. It is not Conversion or the power of Religion that makes them sad, but the want of Religion and fuller Conversion; give them what they desire in Religion, and they shall be cheerful enough; so that, they do not put Religion in sour faces, whatever he said, that it may be hath had as sour a face for a lesser cause, since he spake it. It were to be wished indeed, that others might not see the dejected countenances of Christians, hide them always they cannot. If any worldling or irreligious person have his countenance dejected for being crossed in something he desires, as it is their lot oftentimes, this is nothing; but if one that is set for God and Religion, do at any time show such a countenance, by and by the fault is laid upon Religion. It is far from my thoughts to plead for levity, frothiness, among Christians,