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

This is not the case only of those who have sinned after the example of David, who, I believe, never knew what it was to have his bones broken at his first coming home; I can learn nothing to the contrary, but that God began early with him, it may be in his childhood, most probable, as most of the Saints recorded in Scripture; but it hath been the case of others, in whom God began as early as in him. I doubt not to say, but most what, though not always, those who are born of godly Parents, and brought up under their wing, especially if Parents be prudent in ⟨p. 78⟩government as well as godly, and the Ministry clear and quick, to join with the Parents, that God casts in his seed of Grace betimes; and so he doth in some others, though not so commonly if Parents be wicked and negligent; now though these may have fears, yet to have them so afflictive and terrifying, at first, they have them not; but divers of these have met afterwards with their loads; what reasons the Lord may have in his Sovereign wisdom, who knows; as for some, the reasons we find. If fallen into a sleepy, lazy, slight frame, or begin to dote upon, and follow after the world, to rouse them up he will heat them; or to make them drive on the work of Assurance with more vigour; or for other reasons which I might mention, but forbear; but let the reasons be what they will, experience hath proved it true: many again, of a more tender spirit, watchful in their lives, and that keep up to a Gospel-conversation, they go off the stage of this world, knowing little or nothing of these afflicting terrors from first to last.

This is not the case only of those who have sinned after the example of David, who, I believe, never knew what it was to have his bones broken at his first coming home; I can learn nothing to the contrary, but that God began early with him, it may be in his childhood, most probable, as most of the Saints recorded in Scripture; but it hath been the case of others, in whom God began as early as in him. I doubt not to say, but most what, though not alwayes, those who are born of godly Parents, and brought up under their wing, especially if Parents be prudent in ⟨p. 78⟩government as well as godly, and the Ministry clear and quick, to joyn with the Parents, that God casts in his seed of Grace betimes; and so he doth in some others, though not so commonly if Parents be wicked and negligent; now though these may have fears, yet to have them so afflictive and terrifying, at first, they have them not; but divers of these have met afterwards with their loads; what reasons the Lord may have in his Soveraign wisdom, who knows; as for some, the reasons we find. If fallen into a sleepy, lazy, slight frame, or begin to doat upon, and follow after the world, to rouze them up he will heat them; or to make them drive on the work of Assurance with more vigour; or for other reasons which I might mention, but forbear; but let the reasons be what they will, experience hath proved it true: many again, of a more tender spirit, watchful in their lives, and that keep up to a Gospel-conversation, they go off the stage of this world, knowing little or nothing of these afflicting terrors from first to last.