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

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.

Fourthly, ¹Take up the similitude of dry wood, which that learned Author useth: Doth not the waterish moisture in the green wood resist the fire, and hinder it, that ⟨p. 91⟩it cannot act upon the sulphurous part in the wood? and must not the waterish moisture be first removed, exhaled, and then the fire acts upon, and kindles the sulphurous part? If you say, But there is no fire as yet in the dry wood, I answer, The question was as to priority, which Mr. Shepherd is speaking of. And though you say there is no fire in the wood, though dry, so no Grace as yet in the prepared: To this Mr. Shepherd will answer: There are not indeed any habits of Grace infused into the Soul as yet; but there is such an Act of Grace put forth by the Spirit, to work the will up to this frame in the Elect preparing, which he puts not forth in a Reprobate; this severing from Sin in this time, or under Compunction, being made, not by habitual grace, but actual grace; that is, saith he, the Spirit doth it immediately, by an omnipotent Act, by that which is called actual actuating,