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

First, Knowledge of the Person and his Offices, his whole work: what I am to receive I will know; the Soul and Christ, by receiving him, enter into a married union; it is mystical, but real: Will a Woman receive that Man to be her Husband whom she knows not? John 17.3. This is life eternal, to know thee, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent. Men cannot believe in him of whom not heard, Rom. 10.14. Every one that seeth the Son, and believeth on him, John 6.40, There is a seeing the Son, understanding, knowing him well, before there will be any ⟨p. 156⟩believing on him to salvation. First see, then believe. Thus he began in the term from which he called you; thus he doth also in the term to which he calls you: the work is rational: no more, only touch it.

This knowledge is of his Person, Offices, and work of Redemption; for he must be received with all: the Soul shall not be mistaken, let it know what it must receive. The Person: such as is the Person, such is the valour of his Offices, and of all the work he hath done. He who hath his state of sin and misery laid open to him to purpose, Conscience awakened, guilt lying heavy upon his Soul, and feels the rebellion of his heart, a hell of corruption within him, will never venture his Soul with one who is but a mere Creature: no power merely created can do that for him, which he feels must be done, or he must perish. God in our flesh, 1 Tim. 3.16. it must be that must make a Redeemer for him, or else he must lye in his bonds for ever. Here the Socinians Jesus and our Jesus differ infinitely: what the Apostle saith concerning his Resurrection, 1 Cor. 15.14. If Christ be not risen, our preaching is vain, and your faith is also vain; the same I say concerning his Person, if he be but man, a mere Creature, let him die, and rise, and ascend, both preaching and faith are but vain; a mere man is not a Rock, a precious Cornerstone for Faith to build upon: Flesh is too soft, too sandy, to lay such a weight, the weight of a guilty captivated Soul, under laid lusts, creatures and devils, upon. The Egyptians use men, and not God, and their horses flesh, and not spirit, Isai 31.3. What then? They will fail when you come to trial; Woe to them that go down to Egypt, v. 1. They were reproved much, and accounted fools, who went down to Egypt, to put their trust in men, in flesh, for outward, temporal safety, and shall we trust upon one who is man, and no God, flesh, and not an eternal spirit, for the eternal safety of precious Souls?