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

But this we find, that faith is easy to come by. Whatever men want, yet there is no man wants faith: you may convince men that they are swearers, drunkards, &c. but you shall not convince them that they are unbelievers: though they know nothing of the preparations for faith, yet they have it; but where they got is not the question: though they cannot pray, or walk so precisely as some Puritans do, yet they can believe as well as the best of them: they need not, nor do thank God for this Gift, they were never beholding to him for it: Faith is the easiest duty in all the Bible. Take faith to be, as these men understand it, nothing but trusting Christ for salvation, how little do they understand this act of trusting of Christ? while Conscience lies asleep, sin and guilt do not stare a man in the face, now it is an easy matter to trust Christ for pardon and salvation; but when God awakes that sleepy Lyon, sets a mans sins in order before him, as be sure he will do, here or hereafter, then men shall find it is not so easy a matter to lay their hands upon the head of the Scape-goat, Levit. 16.21. to unburden their guilty laden Souls upon Jesus Christ, whom now they can so easily trust: No, no, friend, thou wilt rather sink under thy burden than take one step towards Christ, and commit thy guilty Soul to him, how hard will that act of faith be, which now is the easiest, as I said, of all duties in the Bible. Thus have they found it, who yet have received him ⟨p. 235⟩upon his own terms, as he is is offered in the Gospel, and thus receiving him, trust him for pardon and salvation; but in the days of their fears arising from their guilt, there lay pressed under their loads, but could not roll their burdens upon Christ, without Grace from Heaven assisting them to put forth this act of faith, for which they magnify God, when enabled to do it.

But this we find, that faith is easie to come by. Whatever men want, yet there is no man wants faith: you may convince men that they are swearers, drunkards, &c. but you shall not convince them that they are unbelievers: though they know nothing of the preparations for faith, yet they have it; but where they got is not the question: though they cannot pray, or walk so precisely as some Puritans do, yet they can believe as well as the best of them: they need not, nor do thank God for this Gift, they were never beholding to him for it: Faith is the easiest duty in all the Bible. Take faith to be, as these men understand it, nothing but trusting Christ for salvation, how little do they understand this act of trusting of Christ? while Conscience lies asleep, sin and guilt do not stare a man in the face, now it is an easie matter to trust Christ for pardon and salvation; but when God awakes that sleepy Lyon, sets a mans sins in order before him, as be sure he will do, here or hereafter, then men shall find it is not so easie a matter to lay their hands upon the head of the Scape-goat,