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

For if so be the Soul must have union with Christ first, and in its union doth and may seek its own salvation, and must have a taste of Gods love (he must mean by this favour and taste a secret intimation of his reconciled love, some good evidence of it) before it comes to this setting up the glory of his Grace above its own salvation; how is it, that this self-love (in not subordinating its own salvation to Gods glory) which will deprive the Soul of all its labour and pains, as he saith, so dangerous, that it will undo it? how is it, I say, that this is found in a person united to Christ? yea, and there lieth till the Soul gets a taste of the love of God? This I cannot understand: How long is it before many poor Souls can get a taste, and how little of it when it comes, how short a time doth it stay? Bara-hora, brevis mora.

For if so be the Soul must have union with Christ first, and in its union doth and may seek its own salvation, and must have a taste of Gods love (he must mean by this favour and taste a secret intimation of his reconciled love, some good evidence of it) before it comes to this setting up the glory of his Grace above its own salvation; how is it, that this self-love (in not subordaining its own salvation to Gods glory) which will deprive the Soul of all its labour and pains, as he saith, so dangerous, that it will undo it? how is it, I say, that this is found in a person united to Christ? yea, and there lieth till the Soul gets a taste of the love of God? This I cannot understand: How long is it before many poor Souls can get a taste, and how little of it when it comes, how short a time doth it stay? Bara-hora, brevis mora.

Thus I have endeavoured to remove those blocks, which were laid in the way by these eminent men, whom I do so much honour; they have been a trouble to my self, as to my own state, which hath made me to examine them, and weigh them in the balance of the Sanctuary, which must determine all questions, and sit Judge upon all our writings: the men being holy, able, and experienced men, made me more to fear; had they been young men, in the heat of their affections, I should not have regarded them: as I saw one book (the Authors name I forgot) who gave such signs of hypocrisy, that will cut off many a gracious heart, but I saw by his picture at the beginning, he was but young, and so did not regard him: How far that I have written may tend to the satisfaction of those Souls, who have been or are troubled with these doubts which have been raised by these worthy men, to the troubling of the peace, and evidence of many gracious Christians, I leave to the judgment of judicious and experienced Divines. I bless God, for my own part I am at rest as to these doubts, (though I have been disquieted by them) unless I meet with better Scriptures and Arguments then yet I have done.