A41331:474
The real Christian, or, A treatise of effectual calling wherein the work of God…
The real Christian, or, A treatise of effectual calling wherein the work of God is drawing the soul to Christ ... : to which is added, in the epistle to the reader, a few words concerning Socinianism ... / by Giles Firmin ...The real Christian, or, A treatise of effectual calling wherein the work of God is drawing the soul to Christ ... : to which is added, in the epistle to the reader, a few words concerning Socinianisme ... / by Giles Firmin ...
London: printed for Dorman Newman, 1670
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
I argued thus: Here is a Command of God lies upon me, my duty is to answer it: Here is a threatening of damnation, if I do not perform my duty: yet at the same time here is a duty lies upon me, to be quietly content without the duty, which I am commanded, and threatened if I obey not: one duty clasheth against the other. As Grace is my duty, I must have it, or damned. It is your duty, saith Mr. Shepherd, to be quietly content, though God will never give you Grace, at the same time. It is my duty to seek my union with God and his Love, he is my summum bonum; if I have him not I am damned. It is your duty to be quietly content without your summum bonum, without God, without his Love, if he will have it so. So it is my duty to believe in Christ, else I am damned if I obey not. It is your duty to be quietly content without Faith and Christ, if God will not give him to you, saith Mr. Shepherd: So that I cannot see where the strength of my Argument is touched at all.
I argued thus: Here is a Command of God lyes upon me, my duty is to answer it: Here is a threatning of damnation, if I do not perform my duty: yet at the same time here is a duty lyes upon me, to be quietly content without the duty, which I am commanded, and threatned if I obey not: one duty clasheth against the other. As Grace is my duty, I must have it, or damned. It is your duty, saith Mr. Shepherd, to be quietly content, though God will never give you Grace, at the same time. It is my duty to seek my union with God and his Love, he is my summum bonum; if I have him not I am damned. It is your duty to be quietly content without your summum bonum, without God, without his Love, if he will have it so. So it is my duty to believe in Christ, else I am damned if I obey not. It is your duty to be quietly content without Faith and Christ, if God will not give him to you, saith Mr. Shepherd: So that I cannot see where the strength of my Argument is touched at all.
For his proof from Christ: Let us see if the case be parallel.