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

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, ⟨p. 210⟩having nothing in it to bear up a heart; but why I pray, because I aimed at my salvation, which is no more but self-love: I wish I could have preached all my people into such self-lovers, I would have ventured my Soul for theirs if they had miscarried.

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 lyed: 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 dayes 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 compleat 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,