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

Arg. 5. Lastly, This Condition of setting up the glory of Gods Grace above our salvation, must be had in Heaven: Therefore to require it here, and that upon this penalty, the loss of our Souls for want of it, agrees not with solid reason.

Quest. Why do you tie it up to Heaven?

I answer: So long as the means to an end is incomplete, imperfect, so long the end, to which that means tends, is but imperfectly attained: Now so long as believers are in this world, with a body of death within, temptations from World and Satan without, lying in so many dangers and fears every day, that many times the Soul knoweth not what to say of it self, but thinks it shall one day perish, this heart of mine will undo me; temptations without drive so hard against the Soul, the means as yet is very imperfect, though the Soul seeth it is Grace only through Christ which can save it, and thinks it shall magnify his Grace if he will save it, yet it fears often, it will not be its portion; hence as yet God hath not his end, or but very little; but when the Believer is got into Heaven, out of the Gun-shot of all temptations, when it is secure and safe ⟨p. 225⟩for ever knowing danger any more, salvation is perfected, and the means to Gods end completed: now begin the Songs, to the praise of the riches of Grace and the Lamb, to be sung, and shall be sung to eternity: now God hath his end completed, Grace in our salvation, and above our salvation for ever triumphing.

I answer: So long as the means to an end is incomplete, imperfect, so long the end, to which that means tends, is but imperfectly attained: Now so long as believers are in this world, with a body of death within, temptations from World and Satan without, lying in so many dangers and fears every day, that many times the Soul knoweth not what to say of it self, but thinks it shall one day perish, this heart of mine will undo me; temptations without drive so hard against the Soul, the means as yet is very imperfect, though the Soul seeth it is Grace only through Christ which can save it, and thinks it shall magnifie his Grace if he will save it, yet it fears often, it will not be its portion; hence as yet God hath not his end, or but very little; but when the Believer is got into Heaven, out of the Gun-shot of all temptations, when it is secure and safe