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

Third Position, Great sinners do not always in their first Conversion meet with great fears and terrors, but with great meltings.

Third Position, Great sinners do not alwayes in their first Conversion meet with great fears and terrors, but with great meltings.

Great showers fall without any thunder-clap. I was with a serious Christian, who before his conversion was as wicked a person as any in the Town where he lived; the drunkards would use to call him Father; so bitter an enemy against godliness, and godly men, that the Minister in that Parish was almost afraid to go by his shop; upon a ⟨p. 77⟩Sermon day, in order to preparation to the Sacraments, the Minister being gone to preach, said this man, I will go hear what Wilson (would not give him his civil title) says: the Minister being in prayer when he came in, he gets into a seat behind the Pulpit, where rarely any sat, and his heart began to give in prayer time; but when Mr. Wilson named his Text, which was, John 5.14. Sin no more lest a worse thing come unto thee, this bitter enemy to godliness, that did before so pour in drink, did now pour out tears abundantly, could not lift up head, but sate weeping all Sermon time, home he went a new man, his Companions came to him, but they found a strange change, he was no more for their turn; on he went two years praying by a Book, but that at last did not please him, he could not open what he felt and wanted by his Book, he lays it by, and resolves, if he can speak but three words to God, yet he would pour out his Soul as well as he could, and open his heart with his own words; then he told me, Satan set upon him with the most horrid temptations, that he was in a sad condition; but as for those legal terrors, though a woeful sinner, I could never learn by his words, that God made him acquainted with them at first; he lived and died a precious Christian.

Great showers fall without any thunder-clap. I was with a serious Christian, who before his conversion was as wicked a person as any in the Town where he lived; the drunkards would use to call him Father; so bitter an enemy against godliness, and godly men, that the Minister in that Parish was almost afraid to go by his shop; upon a