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

First, Not cross to corrupt nature. For it is that which any carnal wretch, that owns there is such a one as Christ, and that he is a Saviour, would have: Christ is mine, forgiveness mine, who will refuse it? Nay, we find men are aforehand here with the Ministry: Doth the Minister preach of Faith? People have it: How hard a matter is it for Ministers to unbottom men from their false grounds? When you have preached one Glass out, turn it again, preach another, yea, and twenty hours more if you will, you shall never move them from this good hope and persuasion that Christ is theirs: it were well if men could be taken off from these groundless persuasions and assurances: so that to be persuaded and assured that Christ is theirs, this is not cross to their nature. And if Mr. Shepherd had meant this, in mens catching hold of Christ before they be fit, that is, their persuasions and assurances Christ is theirs, then would I heartily have joined with him, that mens fingers had need be rapped off from catching hold of Christ, in this sense, till they be fit.

First, Not cross to corrupt nature. For it is that which any carnal wretch, that owns there is such a one as Christ, and that he is a Saviour, would have: Christ is mine, forgiveness mine, who will refuse it? Nay, we find men are aforehand here with the Ministry: Doth the Minister preach of Faith? People have it: How hard a matter is it for Ministers to unbottom men from their false grounds? When you have preached one Glass out, turn it again, preach another, yea, and twenty hours more if you will, you shall never move them from this good hope and perswasion that Christ is theirs: it were well if men could be taken off from these groundless perswasions and assurances: so that to be perswaded and assured that Christ is theirs, this is not cross to their nature. And if Mr. Shepherd had meant this, in mens catching hold of Christ before they be fit, that is, their perswasions and assurances Christ is theirs, then would I heartily have joyned with him, that mens fingers had need be rapped off from catching hold of Christ, in this sense, till they be fit.

Secondly, Not doth it directly empty a man of himself. By consequence a man may gather such a Truth, or Proposition; If Christ be yours, then you are emptied of self, i. e. of that self which stands in opposition to Christ, because faith in Christ doth thus empty a man of this self; but the particular persuasion and assurance that Christ is mine, doth not empty a man directly of this self; for observe many of these who have this assurance (as they conceive) and whom you cannot beat