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

Secondly, If a man be called from one Term to another, surely in order of nature he must first turn from the Term in which he was when he was called, before he can come to the Term to which he was called. In effectual calling, the Term from which the Soul is called is not primarily and properly Hell; all are willing enough to turn from that, [though some, Monsters of men, have it often in their mouths, God damn me] but Sin, Creature-idolizing, Inordinate-self, which Hell attends, this is the proper Term from which we are called, and Hell is a strong Argument to make us attend to the Call, if that be the wages of Sin; Must not then a man in order of nature first turn from Sin, before he can turn to God? Can he come to this Term, and not move first from the other?

Thirdly, Is that man rightly prepared for Christ, whose will doth actually resist him in the terms upon which he is offered? Is not Christ clothed with all his Offices, with complete Redemption, the person to whom we are called, and must he not thus be received? But if the will of man refuse to be separated from its lusts, doth it not resist Christ in his Kingly Office, and great part of his Redemption? If the Soul be not made willing, or at least not unwilling, (to use Mr. Shepherds notion) that Christ should come and separate Sin from it, then I think it doth resist him in his work.

Thirdly, Is that man rightly prepared for Christ, whose will doth actually resist him in the terms upon which he is offered? Is not Christ cloathed with all his Offices, with compleat Redemption, the person to whom we are called, and must he not thus be received? But if the will of man refuse to be separated from its lusts, doth it not resist Christ in his Kingly Office, and great part of his Redemption? If the Soul be not made willing, or at least not unwilling, (to use Mr. Shepherds notion) that Christ should come and separate Sin from it, then I think it doth resist him in his work.