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

3. Satan helps here; he seldom or never troubles that person, whom he findeth living upon himself, with temptations; he labours to settle them in the way they are in, keeps off all disquieting thoughts; if he cannot draw them into that profaneness he would, then he seeks to undo them this way; if he can but keep them from closing with Christ, well enough; he is sure of these; other men may possibly meet with an Alarm from their Consciences, which these men seldom do.

3. Satan helps here; he seldom or never troubles that person, whom he findeth living upon himself, with temptations; he labours to settle them in the way they are in, keeps off all disquieting thoughts; if he cannot draw them into that profaneness he would, then he seeks to undo them this way; if he can but keep them from closing with Christ, well enough; he is sure of these; other men may possibly meet with an Alarum from their Consciences, which these men seldom do.

4. The life of Faith in Christ, is the most cross duty to flesh and blood of any that God requires; let men think of it what they will, to be sure here is the same holiness required, that the Law requires, and that is as cross to mens lusts, as the Law can be; this is opposite to mans badness. Then it empties a man of himself, all his conceited righteousness, duties, abilities, and this is opposite to mans goodness: So that Faith is cross every way, hence the vile heart frets against it.

5. As to the poor humbled sinner, of whom we are now treating, he is ashamed to go to Christ, he seeth himself in such a forlorn condition, he knows not how to look Christ in the face, nor can tell how Christ should look on him; as if the Prodigal, seeing himself in his rags, should be ashamed to see his Father till he had gotten better clothes on his back: So doth this, if he had repented, mourned, changed his life, and he thinks, at least, he might come better to Christ then now he can in this ragged condition.