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

For my second Conclusion. Real Christians believe the first Conclusion, without any dispute; and they so believe it, that the number should be much less, if all which they say of themselves be true: They know Christ will shut out half those (as Cajetan observes) who appear to be real Christians by their Lamps, and they shut out themselves. Many things there are which make poor tender Christians determine hardly upon the question concerning their own state; and many times, when other Arguments are answered, this now mentioned, namely, that but five Virgins were wise, the number of the saved ones so small, this sticks so close, that they know not what to say; that they should be enrolled in this little number, their hearts tremble, they dare not entertain it, the mercy is so unspeakable. But it is not my intent to meddle with all the things that trouble Christians: I shall confine my self to the discourse I have been upon. Out of these two Topics, Preparations for Christ, and Faith in Christ, have Satan, joining with the darkness and fears of their own hearts, helped them to dispute against themselves, the truth of their conversion, for many years: Yea, what other Objections are made from the workings of their corruptions which they feel rebelling in them against the Will of Christ: they reduce all to these heads: I never was right prepared for Christ: I never yet saw sin in its right colours: ⟨p. 237⟩lours: I never felt that spirit of bondage, those legal terrors and sorrows, as I ought to have done; hence fin is no more bitter, Christ and holiness are no more precious to me: sin and I were never so separated in that work as ought to have been, hence it cleaves so close unto me, and hath such power over me at this day,: here also they lay the blame, when they cannot find their hearts running out in love after Christ, as they should have them, and would have them; yea, all their errors and miscarriages in their after works, they reduce to their errors in this first work: it being a sure Rule, An error in the first concoction is not mended in the second.

For my second Conclusion. Real Christians believe the first Conclusion, without any dispute; and they so believe it, that the number should be much less, if all which they say of themselves be true: They know Christ will shut out half those (as Cajetan observes) who appear to be real Christians by their Lamps, and they shut out themselves. Many things there are which make poor tender Christians determine hardly upon the question concerning their own state; and many times, when other Arguments are answered, this now mentioned, namely, that but five Virgins were wise, the number of the saved ones so small, this sticks so close, that they know not what to say; that they should be enrolled in this little number, their hearts tremble, they dare not entertain it, the mercy is so unspeakable. But it is not my intent to meddle with all the things that trouble Christians: I shall confine my self to the discourse I have been upon. Out of these two Topicks, Preparations for Christ, and Faith in Christ, have Satan, joyning with the darkness and fears of their own hearts, helped them to dispute against themselves, the truth of their conversion, for many years: Yea, what other Objections are made from the workings of their corruptions which they feel rebelling in them against the Will of Christ: they reduce all to these heads: I never was right prepared for Christ: I never yet saw sin in its right colours: