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

For the first Question, I shall not need stand upon that, it is so plain, to any man who hath read the Gospel, that he is stark blind that cannot see this, that believers in ⟨p. 209⟩Christ may aim at their own salvation in receiving of him: Only this same word, self love, is a suspicious word, and Mr. Rogers (especially) with Mr. Shepherd, have spoken so much against it, that they make poor Christians afraid: Now it is true, self-love is the great cut-throat, it damns thousands, if not all. I touched this before, and will repeat it yet once more, for the support of poor Christians, and I will lay down this Rule concerning self (and will by the wisdom of God defend it against any man that hath a mind to oppose me.)

A Rule. Never did God declare against self, or call a man to deny himself, in that which did hinder his own salvation and happiness, lying in union and communion with God by Christ.

Did I hear any man preach a duty to Christians, in answering of which duty I saw clearly, my self, my happiness, my salvation were cut off and hindered, [placing my happiness (as I said) in my union and communion with God by Christ] I would be bold to tell that Preacher he lied: God never gave him a Text to preach such Doctrine: I know he hath given me Commands to deny my self, but in those Commands obeyed, my self (that is, my happiness and salvation) is preserved safe and sound. If the Reader thinks by my writing, that I am warm, in this business, I am so indeed, for it hath been a vexation to me to hear precious Christians, in the days of their despondencies, when I have been endeavouring to help clear out to them their work of faith in Christ, and they could not deny, but such a faith as I have mentioned, they had found, then they would turn me off with this, It was their own salvation they aimed at, and this was nothing but self: So that to receive Jesus Christ, God in our flesh, in all his Offices, in his complete work of Redemption, resting, trusting, relying upon him only, for all redemption and blessings of the new Covenant; and this declared to be true by a Gospel-conversation, this hath been esteemed as little,