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

but at that time there was no talk of being contented to be damned, if God will have it so, as now she had told me: believe their hearts who will, I shall never believe mine if it tell me so. Moreover, if Mr. Hooker, and Mr. Shepherd, had found this in themselves, in their very first Conversion, they must prove, that God must go the same way in all whom he converts, from Divine Authority; else, as said Chap. 1. It is tyranny, to tie up every Christian to the way God wrought in me, that so he must work in them. Once more: Mr. Hooker telleth us, without this work there can be no Faith, in more then one place; yet in that Piece, put out in defence of the right of Believers Children to Baptism, he undertakes to prove, that God works Faith in Infants: But are Infants also contented to be denied Grace, and be damned, if God will have it so, before God works Faith in them?

but at that time there was no talk of being contented to be damned, if God will have it so, as now she had told me: believe their hearts who will, I shall never believe mine if it tell me so. Moreover, if Mr. Hooker, and Mr. Shepherd, had found this in themselves, in their very first Conversion, they must prove, that God must go the same way in all whom he converts, from Divine Authority; else, as said Chap. 1. It is tyranny, to tie up every Christian to the way God wrought in me, that so he must work in them. Once more: Mr. Hooker telleth us, without this work there can be no Faith, in more then one place; yet in that Piece, put out in defence of the right of Believers Children to Baptisme, he undertakes to prove, that God works Faith in Infants: But are Infants also contented to be denied Grace, and be damned, if God will have it so, before God works Faith in them?

As to quarrelling, discontent, and impatience, if God denies his Love and Grace; because it shall not trouble us when I come to give my Arguments against Mr. Shepherd, this being another question, I shall speak a few words here: I said before, as I will not study how to be content ⟨p. 127⟩without Grace, and be damned, so I would not quarrel; impatience with God I will not justify: O no, I will and do beg pardon of my God; I do admire and adore his Patience and long-suffering towards me, that he can bear so with my frowardness, it shall be his eternal praise: But O how hard a thing is it, when Souls are pressed and oppressed with temptations long and strong, whether from apprehensions of guilt, wrath, and lye looking and listening for a little favour from God, but none come; or are pestered and plagued with the perpetual motions of some imperious lust, that dogs them every day, year after year, long time together; and though the Soul prays, begs, useth all means, yet can get no relief from God, who could with as much ease remove it as I can move a finger, and will not; but here lies the lust striking at the root of Grace, and makes the Soul question whether there be one spark in it or no: I say, how hard is it now for the Soul to keep from impatience and quarrelling? Jonah and Jeremiah could quarrel,