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

1. This agrees with Adam's principle; once it was so, we had life in our selves, and needed not to go out to another for righteousness; we are all born under a Covenant of works, till the Lord brings us under a Covenant of Grace; and we would live by a principle that agrees with a Covenant of works.

2. This agrees with the pride of mans heart; We have heard the pride of Moab, he is exceeding proud, Jer. 48.29. It may be truly applied to us all as to this point; proud, yea, exceeding proud; poor as beggars, not one rag of righteousness to cover us, but proud; no man cares to be beholden to another; every man would be an Independent: Rom. 10.3. The Jews went about to establish their own righteousness, [Greek or Hebrew], they sought to make it stand; they have not submitted themselves to the righteousness of God; would not submit, their hearts too proud: Was this proper to the Jews only? No verily, it is common to all the Sons and Daughters of Adam: Whence rise these disputes against imputed righteousness, exalting of merits, works, &c. the bringing of men to walk according to the light within them, i.e. which light within them, is all the Christ that many know in these days. Yea, let a man that keeps a narrow watch over his heart, and observes what rises there, tell me, doth he not feel sometimes in his life, what risings there are against this self-emptying ⟨p. 99⟩principle? Verily, mans nature loves it not, he hates it.

2. This agrees with the pride of mans heart; We have heard the pride of Moah, he is exceeding proud, Jer. 48.29. It may be truly applyed to us all as to this point; proud, yea, exceeding proud; poor as beggars, not one rag of righteousness to cover us, but proud; no man cares to be beholden to another; every man would be an Independent: