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

This willingness to be separated from Sin under the work of Compunction (and so proper to the Elect in the work of preparation) Mr. Shepherd observes, is not received by many worthy Divines, who think this belongs to Sanctification, and is wrought in the Soul after union with Christ by Faith. I do indeed find divers able Divines to be of a contrary opinion to Mr. Shepherd, who though they maintain preparatory works before Conversion, yet they think they are common to the Reprobate with the Elect; and that no preparatory works have any certain or necessary connection with the Form that is to be introduced; but they are only material dispositions, which render the subject more susceptive, or fit for the form to be introduced: as dryness in the Wood makes the Wood more fit to receive the fire, but no more fire in the dry, then in the green Wood; so nothing that hath any saving distinction between the Elect and Reprobate prepared; but Faith, answering the Call of God, and uniting to Christ, who is our life, is the first saving distinguishing note.

This willingness to be separated from Sin under the work of Compunction (and so proper to the Elect in the work of preparation) Mr. Shepherd observes, is not received by many worthy Divines, who think this belongs to Sanctification, and is wrought in the Soul after union with Christ by Faith. I do indeed find divers able Divines to be of a contrary opinion to Mr. Shepherd, who though they maintain preparatory works before Conversion, yet they think they are common to the Reprobate with the Elect; and that no preparatory works have any certain or necessary connexion with the Form that is to be introduced; but they are only material dispositions, which render the subject more susceptive, or fit for the form to be introduced: as driness in the Wood makes the Wood more fit to receive the fire, but no more fire in the dry, then in the green Wood; so nothing that hath any saving distinction between the Elect and Reprobate prepared; but Faith, answering the Call of God, and uniting to Christ, who is our life, is the first saving distinguishing note.

This Question, fall it which way it will, makes no trouble to a sound Christian in examining of its work; Separation from Sin must be, Christ only can separate from Sin: The will must take Christ as King, and so must be separated from Sin: So then, the thing be done, whether it were begun under Compunction, before union with Christ, or after union, it matters not; the truth of our Conversion depends not upon the priority in the Question: yet (with submission to other learned Divines) I cannot see that Mr. Shepherd in this point is mistaken, there seems to be clear Reasons on his side. For,