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

The reason of this lieth here, when a Christian once cometh to be acquainted with the Christian Race and Conversation what it is, and observes the workings of his wretched, vile, treacherous heart, he is driven to such plunges ever and anon, that he knows not what to do or think, his temptations, perplexities, are so multiplied, that his necessities of Christ do more appear; there was a necessity of Christ, and excellency in him, which the Soul saw at first; but now necessities are branched forth into many particulars, which were not all in view at first; that the Soul feeleth its necessity of Christ more and more; and as it feeleth its necessities, so finding in Christ, that fullness and fitness in him to answer all these necessities, troubles, perplexities, and that Christ in his Marriage-Covenant is engaged for them all, it lieth upon him to secure the Believer against whatever comes, this openeth further ⟨p. 251⟩the excellencies of Christ to the Soul, and causeth the will to embrace and choose him yet more, that thus the choice grows stronger: I did not know this, I did not think of this at the first, saith the Soul, but now I see I am the most pitiful Creature without Christ, none so bad: These new various particular exigencies and straits, which the Believer meets with, clear up, and discover Christ more unto him; for the real Christian knows none but Christ to run to when he almost ready to run out of his wits; temptations blow in so hard from every quarter of the Compass, that the man is ready to sink, give up all, and conclude desperately upon himself; but when he comes to understand, and meditates upon it, how Jesus Christ hath undertaken for all, even for that which I feel now, and knows not which way to get over, this maketh him to cleave to Christ the more, and embrace him yet the more strongly.

The reason of this lyeth here, when a Christian once commeth to be acquainted with the Christian Race and Conversation what it is, and observes the workings of his wretched, vile, treacherous heart, he is driven to such plunges ever and anon, that he knows not what to do or think, his temptations, perplexities, are so multiplied, that his necessities of Christ do more appear; there was a necessity of Christ, and excellency in him, which the Soul saw at first; but now necessities are branched forth into many particulars, which were not all in view at first; that the Soul feeleth its necessity of Christ more and more; and as it feeleth its necessities, so finding in Christ, that fulness and fitness in him to answer all these necessities, troubles, perplexities, and that Christ in his Marriage-Covenant is ingaged for them all, it lyeth upon him to secure the Believer against whatever comes, this openeth further