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

Fourthly, Now is the Soul ready to listen to any one who shall direct him to get out of this misery in which he feels he is involved: now the news of a Saviour is welcome, the voice of the Gospel is pleasant; now propound the terms, say what you will, only save me from my sin and misery, and I shall willingly accept of a Christ; the Soul now is rightly prepared for Christ. It is a practise in some Towns, so long as the poor in the Parish have any thing of their own in their houses which is money-worth, (except a bed or some such thing) they will not take them into their Collection; but let them make money of what they have, and maintain themselves with that, or make it over to them, they must be poor indeed, before they come into their Collection. It is a truth I am sure here, so long as the Soul hath any thing money-worth, ⟨p. 107⟩that it thinks is worth, as Paul did, Phil. 3: as it will not come to Christ (so in this differs from many who are willing enough to burden Towns, though they have something of their own) so neither will Christ take them into his Collection, or rather relief, for he collects nothing, he hath fullness enough to relieve all the poor of his Flock; but poor they shall be before he will take them. So long as the Prodigal could common with the Hogs, fill his belly with husks, he would not go home; he was first brought to the starving point: So it is with Souls, if they can fill themselves, or find any sustenance from their husky duty, they will not go home, through pride, or shame; but when brought to starving, stay now Christ, born in Bethlehem, or house of bread: And is that living bread becomes precious? Thus John hath done his work, that is, To make ready a people prepared for the Lord, Luke 1.17. Here we find this Soul, thus far it is come, it is prepared for the Lord.

Fourthly, Now is the Soul ready to listen to any one who shall direct him to get out of this misery in which he feels he is involved: now the news of a Saviour is welcome, the voice of the Gospel is pleasant; now propound the terms, say what you will, only save me from my sin and misery, and I shall willingly accept of a Christ; the Soul now is rightly prepared for Christ. It is a practise in some Towns, so long as the poor in the Parish have any thing of their own in their houses which is money-worth, (except a bed or some such thing) they will not take them into their Collection; but let them make money of what they have, and maintain themselves with that, or make it over to them, they must be poor indeed, before they come into their Collection. It is a truth I am sure here, so long as the Soul hath any thing money-worth,