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

For Mr. Shepherd's Similitude, which he brings to illustrate his Reason (but illustration and probation are different things) from a Beggar coming to our doors, asking alms, and will have what he desires, else he falls a quarrelling with the Master of the house, draws his knife: What saith the Master? Away proud Beggar, shall I not do with my own what I will? &c.

Laying by this quarrelling, drawing the knife, and so that devil-like fierceness against God, which Mr. Shepherd mentions, (and which is another question, this must not be I acknowledge) I shall, with this holy mans leave, give him a Similitude, which answers the case and Scriptures more aptly then his doth.

For the beggar, if one man doth not relieve him, another may, and save his life. But let us suppose, first, There is but one man that can relieve a poor man in a miserable, painful, starving condition. Secondly, This rich man calls this poor man to his door. Thirdly, Promiseth him, if he will submit to such a condition, he will relieve him, and save him from perishing. Fourthly, He commands him to come. Fifthly, Threatens him if he will not come: Now for this poor man to go and beg at his door, and declare ⟨p. 119⟩that he doth and will submit to his condition, and to have a servant of the house come and tell this poor beggar my Master is Lord of his own goods, may do what he please with them, you must be content to starve and dye: if the beggar quarrels with the servant, yea, and Master too, I cannot blame him. For the Reddition or Application of the Similitude, the case is the same; Man hath dealt vilely with God, brought himself into a miserable, undone and damned condition; God hath made the man sensible of this his state, and lies under the burden of it. God, who is rich in grace, and only able to help this man, calls him to his Son, whom he hath sent to redeem such miserable Creatures, and by Christ he calls him to himself. Secondly, In calling him, he offers to him, if he will come and submit to his condition, he will save him from his woeful misery perfectly, give him his Love, Grace, Pardon, Image, &c. Thirdly, He commands him to come to his Son. Fourthly, He threatens him with damnation if he will not come Fifthly, He promiseth, covenants, and sets seals to his Covenant, that he will do all for him in the second Head, upon that condition. This man now finds the Lord hath wrought in him a willingness to submit to the condition; oh with all my heart do I yield, if thou wilt give me what thou hast said. To have a servant now come and tell me, the Lord is sovereign over his Grace; true, he can pardon, sanctify, &c. but he will dispose of his Grace where he pleaseth; you must be content to have no Grace, but be damned for ever: though it's true, I would not fly like a Devil against God, nor draw my knife, yet I will quarrel with this servant, and tell him his Master is of a sweeter nature, and told me otherwise, bad me come, and promised he would save me, if I did come to his condition, which I heartily submit to.