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

Thus his Father in Law, Mr. Tho. ¹Hooker, that eminent man of God, in his Souls Humiliation, speaks it out in plain terms, 'Tis harsh, and tedious, and long it is ere the soul be thus framed; yet the heart truly abased ⟨image 24⟩is content to bear the estate of damnation: [By the way observe, if it be long first before this be attained, then this soul is a long time under preparation, and not yet come to Christ, according to his discourse that he is upon.] Thus in several other places he hath these expressions, ²The humbled soul is content, satisfied, and well-apaid, if God will leave it in that miserable and damnable estate, into which it hath brought it self. Now when the awakened sinner, in his way to Christ, meets with these Lessons, and begins to meditate upon them; must I be quiet though God will never give me his love? Must I be content, though God will never work, or manifest grace to me, or in me? Must I be content to bear the state of damnation, well a paid, satisfied, though God leave me in it? O what work do these make in a poor, distressed, lost, undone sinner? Here are blocks for me to get over; if these things be true, I must never look to come to the City of Refuge, but must dye in the way, and be damned for ever.

1. 1Mr. Hooker's Souls Humil. p. 112.
2. 2Ibid. p. 114, 116, 140.

But suppose a man hath got through the way, and is now come to the gate of the City, to enter in, to close with Christ by Faith. Another meets him, Well sinner, whatever Christ was before to you, now it seems he is of worth; now you would have a Christ: Yea, with all my heart, saith the distressed sinner: But what is it in Christ you look at? you would have a Saviour? Yea, and can you blame me, is not his name Jesus? I would have him a complete Saviour: