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

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, ⟨p. 67⟩I am afraid some take too much liberty; but yet, I think, a cheerful, affable, courteous behaviour in Christians, avoiding that mopishness, austerity, morosity, which some Christians express, especially towards carnal men, would better become the Gospel, and convince men of the goodness and content that is to be found in the ways of God: None rejoice more heartily then those who rejoice in the Lord, to which Christians are so much exhorted; this joy is spiritual, heavenly. Yet there is another joy lawful, as we are rational Animals, have bodies as well as souls; these bodies call for many things; and whilst we do enjoy things that support and comfort them, we may rejoice in the goodness God conveyeth by them. Some Christians, that think we should rejoice only in the Lord, and are persons of a more sour, melancholy temper, how offended are they if they see others laugh?

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 denyes 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 easie 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 chearful enough; so that, they do not put Religion in sowr faces, whatever he said, that it may be hath had as sowr 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 alwayes 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 shew such a countenance, by and by the fault is layed upon Religion. It is far from my thoughts to plead for levity, frothiness, among Christians,