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

[* Dialog. 3. de lib. arb. p. 151. Ad hanc (i. e. justitiam) haminem divinitus allici, & impelli fatemur, sed cogi pernegamus, saith Castellio, ibid. Allici is not sufficient: What means he by imply? So p. 153. Existimo Dei Spiritum esse quendam quasi ventum animos impellentem, & ad obedientiam flectentem.]

[* Dialog. 3. de lib. arb. p. 151. Ad hanc (i. e. justitiam) haminem divinitus allici, & impelli fatemur, sed cogi pernegamus, saith Castellio, ibid. Allici is not sufficient: What means he by impelli? So p. 153. Existimo Dei Spiritum esse quendam quasi ventum animos impellentem, & ad obedientiam flectentem.]

If Castellio would only oppose compulsion, we say the ⟨p. 247⟩same, only the question is, How comes the will to be made thus free? That it is free in its closing with Christ, it is not forced, nor can be forced, as to its elicit act, nor will Christ ever accept of a forced Match, this we acknowledge. If God commends the voluntary Jews, and so voluntary Christians, then the voluntary and free Christians will commend his free Grace, Nos volumus, sed ille facit (non cogit) ut velimus; many people do receive Christ, embrace him (at least as they think) but in scares; any thing while under fears and horrors. I was once sent for to a Gentleman, who lay at an Inn, who was under some trouble of mind, as I was told; I knew no reason why I should be sent for, there being other Ministers in the Town more able, and my self but a stranger at the Inn: when I came into the Chamber, I found the man in dreadful horror, his carriage towards me was such as I abhor my self ever since at the remembrance of it; the man was under the terrible apprehensions of a damned estate: what sin was then set home upon him I know not: to enquire into his particular sin, was not I thought convenient: I never saw his face before, nor never after but once in a Church three days after; seeing the man in this Agony, just like the Jailer, I could not but speak to him as Paul did, opening the work of faith in Christ, what it was: I could say nothing to him by way of question, if he were willing to embrace him, &c. but he yielded in all things to me, nothing came amiss now: but I feared then it was but in a horrible scare: I could not learn what was his name, nor how to enquire after him, what became of this work. The Merchants goods shall over board in a storm (not because he hates them) to save Ship from sinking, himself from drowning, though when the storm is over he wisheth he had them again with all his heart. A man that is drowning will catch hold of a sharp Sword, though it cuts his hands, to save himself, if that will save him. If you will say, men by these scares and fears may be made very willing to embrace Christ for their Saviour from these evils which they so