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

Yet I will affirm, it was a mighty power of God; and well might it be said, It is given you not only to believe, but to suffer, for those Truths, which you do believe and assent unto, Phil. 1, 29. Neither was this the mighty power of God only then, but it is now also; and some have felt it under temptations, though most make nothing it, because it hath been a Religion owned above sixteen hundred years, our Fathers Religion, and all the Nations hereabouts of the same profession; all which are poor grounds to make up Divine faith. The first news I had of this temptation was, when above twenty years since, being about the Mediterranean, and lay in danger of Turks, who then were exceeding strong and busy: In case I should be taken by the Turks, what have you for your Religion to make you give assent to your Gospel? The Turks, and those who profess the Mahometan doctrine, are far more numerous than Christians are; have been in possession of it a thousand years, and much of this stuff was suggested; whence I saw presently, and have since many times learned by experience, ⟨p. 182⟩that those grounds upon which most Christians go, will signify little to bear up a man in day of temptations: and still I must and will say, to work up a Soul to such an assent, as is Divine faith, in a day of temptation especially, there is required a great power of God. It is true, God doth not let many of his weak (as to Intellectuals I mean) people be tried here, yet the Truth is real, although God spares you, and do not slight it.

Yet I will affirm, it was a mighty power of God; and well might it be said, It is given you not only to believe, but to suffer, for those Truths, which you do believe and assent unto, Phil. 1, 29. Neither was this the mighty power of God only then, but it is now also; and some have felt it under temptations, though most make nothing it, because it hath been a Religion owned above sixteen hundred years, our Fathers Religion, and all the Nations hereabouts of the same profession; all which are poor grounds to make up Divine faith. The first news I had of this temptation was, when above twenty years since, being about the Mediterranean, and lay in danger of Turks, who then were exceeding strong and busie: In case I should be taken by the Turks, what have you for your Religion to make you give assent to your Gospel? The Turks, and those who profess the Mahometan doctrine, are far more numerous than Christians are; have been in possession of it a thousand years, and much of this stuffe was suggested; whence I saw presently, and have since many times learned by experience,