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

Sixthly, The Lord may and doth many times withdraw his assistance unto duties, that the man cannot pray nor mourn as before; is not so lively, but grows more ⟨p. 104⟩dead and blockish, hard hearted, as he conceives and feels himself. God is free in his assistance and influences, he is not bound to give them; while the man could pray and relent in prayer, his heart tender and mourning, he had some hopes; but now his eyes are dry, his heart hard, cannot relent, now all is naught; this cuts off all his hopes, and now must perish.

Seventhly, The Spirit sets home this Doctrine with authority, so that there is no opposing, Without Christ there is no salvation: He that believeth not is condemned already, John 3.18. He that hath the Son hath life; he that hath not the Son, hath not life, 1 John 5.12. Thou thinkest thou hast this and that, which will speak well for thee: Hast thou Christ? If a Christless Soul, have you what you will else, the wrath of God abideth on thee, John 3. ult. Such words are set home with that life, that there is no gainsaying: the Soul must look out for a Saviour, else all will be naught.

More possibly may be added, but I think these are the Heads, be they more or less, by which the Spirit doth usually drive the Soul out of it self. Some Christians experience some of these, some more of them, some fewer: no matter how many of them, or how few, if the Spirit useth any of them, they shall do the work he intends.