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

Thus it is in the spiritual Marriage; the poor awakened sinner hears that Christ offers himself unto it: if it be one who never heard of Christ, as Jailer, and those Christians converted from Heathenism, then Paul must speak to him the Word of the Lord, Acts 16.32. If others have heard the Name of Christ, have general notions of him, while they read the Gospel, or hear it preached, the Spirit joins with it, as it did with Paul, and teacheth the Soul the knowledge of Christ; that the Soul seeth Christ and knows him so as it never knew him before, though it knew some of the same notions. The Spirit teacheth the ⟨p. 184⟩goodness of Christ, this the Soul needs; the same Spirit assureth the Soul of the truth of what he teacheth, and draws the understanding to assent to all this Doctrine as true. But if the question be, Is Christ real and true in his offer to such a vile wretch as I am? He assureth the Soul, from the Offer, Call, Command and Promise of Christ, that he is true, and doth not mock it. Assent is given here also. The Judgment approves of Christ exceedingly, no good to him, I am happy for ever in having him; now the Soul having thus heard and learned of the Father, John 6.45. both the excellency, goodness, and truth in all: now the Will comes off freely, take him? ay with all my heat. The door is opened to Christ, who stood knocking, Rev. 3.20. He hath opened the heart of Lydia, Acts 16.14. The will thus taking him, and giving up it self to him as thus offered, union is made; Christ and the Believer are become one mystically; upon this follows communion; the married believing Soul rests upon him, trusts to him for all its wants, till Christ hath brought the Soul to his Fathers house, and to himself in glory.

Thus it is in the spiritual Marriage; the poor awakened sinner hears that Christ offers himself unto it: if it be one who never heard of Christ, as Jaylour, and those Christians converted from Heathenisme, then Paul must speak to him the Word of the Lord, Acts 16.32