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

That they do: And what, I pray, are they; Be content and quiet though God will never manifest Grace, never give you his Love, never pity you, never succour you, though he will give you up to your lusts, and damn you; yet since he shall have the glory of his power and justice, you must be content, well apayed, satisfied. These are the bladders put under our arms, to keep us from sinking under these discouragements: I fear these bladders are filled with gunpowder, as Bishop Ridley's friends gave him to him to help him; whether these will help poor Souls. I much doubt: these Supporters, while we lean on them, prove Spears rather to run into our very hearts; as he said of the Egyptian Reed, If one lean on it, it will go into his hand and pierce it, Isai. 36.6. But blessed be the Lord we know better ⟨p. 135⟩encouragements. In Isai. 33.14. we read of sinners in Zion crying out, Who among us shall dwell with devouring fire? Who amongst us shall dwell with everlasting burnings? It seems they were terrified with these thoughts: but Mr Shepherd would almost make us believe it were a habitable place; for sinking discouragements under the thoughts of it, when the awakened sinner imagines God will thither send him, he calls a resistance of Gods will. But O thou blessed Saint, who art now got to thy rest in Heaven, is it possible for a Soul to entertain these thoughts as his portion, and must he set down contented, and not sink? Sink? yea, sink, and sink, and sink again; Who can stand under them? What is the wrath of the Almighty become a burden supportable, that you cry out against sinking discouragements? Because Sampson could carry a way the gates of Gaza, can every Philistine do it? they would break any mans back else. Because Christ hath carried the gates of Hell for poor believers, can we bear them, the thoughts of them, and not sink? What didst thou mean, O gracious Saint, to write such words? These thoughts once, a little while upon occasion of this passage, began to take hold of me; the little time they lasted, made me a little to understand those words concerning Christ, Mark 14 33. He began to be sore amazed: And what shall I say, John 12.27. O what did our blessed sweet Saviour meet with at that time? by the very little taste I had a short time, I perceived what was in his Cup: amazed indeed, and not know what to say;