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

The next thing that makes many real Christians exclude themselves from the number of Believers is, their ⟨p. 239⟩want of faith, they have no faith: And why no faith? Because they have not that particular persuasion that Christ with all his benefits are theirs: they cannot say, they dare not say, Christ is mine, or that my sins are forgiven: when they hear of unbelief, they know of no unbelief but this, when persons do not believe, or cannot believe, that Christ is theirs, and their sins are pardoned: when they hear how great a sin unbelief is, and what terrible threats the Word of God hath made against unbelievers, they apply all to themselves: What pangs have some Christians, yea, men of great parts, and Ministers, been under, when they read that, Revel. 21.8. But the fearful and unbelieving, &c. shall have their parts in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone? applying the Text to their fears, doubts, unbelief, because they could not believe that Christ and his benefits were theirs. And no wonder if Christians did thus conclude against themselves, if faith in Christ be no other than that particular persuasion and assurance, that Christ Jesus is mine; that I shall have life and salvation by his means; that whatever Christ did for the redemption of mankind, he did it for me, &c. Those that had not this definition, had not the thing defined, that is, saving faith: Hence they might exclude themselves from the number of Believers. Now though this be in great part taken off, since Ministers of late have cleared the nature of faith in Christ, better than it was before, yet still it is that which keepeth many Christians under the old doctrine, being not yet forgot of many, and the latter not so clearly understood by most, of which many Ministers may be in fault, for if they be not clear in it themselves, how can they preach it clearly to others? But if that be saving faith in Christ which we have opened, and are assured it is saving, how many thousands will be found to be real Christians, sound believers, who according to the old definition of faith were cut off from that number? Ask Christians, Have you this particular persuasion, that Christ is yours, that whatever he did for the redemption of mankind he did it for you? and that your ⟨p. 240⟩sins are pardoned?