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

Mr. Shepherd, p. 147. makes this his second Argument to prove his Position, Why art thou quiet and still when God denies thee any common mercy? Is it not because the Lord will have it so? Now look, as we say of him that hates sin as sin, that he hates all sin: so he that is meekened with Gods good pleasure in any one thing, because of his good pleasure in it, upon the same ground will at least desire to stoop in every thing, &c. So if God will deny thee mercy, &c. [By the way note, this must not be any grace, though the Soul hath this frame of heart, for he speaks of one as yet not come to Faith.] Now in this Argument of his we shall find there is something positive, and more then a non-murmuring. There are many outward common mercies which God hath given to others, and those of his own people, but denied them to me, which I could be glad of, and think I should bless him if I had them; yet I do not only not murmur against God, and quarrel with him, because I am denied them, but I am very well pleased, quiet, and content with his Will in denying them; a positive, quiet, well-pleased frame I feel: upon what grounds I am so content, whether only upon the account of his Sovereignty, that I do not now express, but may speak to it when I come to answer his Argument.

Mr. Shepherd, p. 147. makes this his second Argument to prove his Position, Why art thou quiet and still when God denies thee any common mercy? Is it not because the Lord will have it so? Now look, as we say of him that hates sin as sin, that he hates all sin: so he that is meekned with Gods good pleasure in any one thing, because of his good pleasure in it, upon the same ground will at least desire to stoop in every thing, &c. So if God will deny thee mercy, &c. [By the way note, this must not be any grace, though the Soul hath this frame of heart, for he speaks of one as yet not come to Faith.] Now in this Argument of his we shall find there is something positive, and more then a non-murmuring. There are many outward common mercies which God hath given to others, and those of his own people, but denied them to me, which I could be glad of, and think I should bless him if I had them; yet I do not only not murmur against God, and quarrel with him, because I am denied them, but I am very well pleased, quiet, and content with his Will in denying them; a positive, quiet, well-pleased frame I feel: upon what grounds I am so content, whether only upon the account of his Soveraignty, that I do not now express, but may speak to it when I come to answer his Argument.