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

The second thing is the Object, or what you do receive, Jesus Christ the Lord, Christ clothed with all Offices, not one too much, nor one too little; the real Christian cannot spare one, and desires no more: Christ is so fitted for my turn, saith the Believer, by being made Prophet, Priest and King for me, Wisdom, Righteousness, Sanctification and Redemption for me, that I know not what I could desire more, nor could I be healed, recovered, redeemed, if he were made less; so that God and the real Christian are agreed upon terms: Were I to make my terms, saith the Believer, I could not tell how to mend, or how to have other propounded than God hath made and propounded to me already. But let me take this into pieces, for here also shall we find deceits lye: See how the real Christian receiveth his Object, and by it we shall discover the Christian only in name.

The second thing is the Object, or what you do receive, Jesus Christ the Lord, Christ cloathed with all Offices, not one too much, nor one too little; the real Christian cannot spare one, and desires no more: Christ is so fitted for my turn, saith the Believer, by being made Prophet, Priest and King for me, Wisdom, Righteousness, Sanctification and Redemption for me, that I know not what I could desire more, nor could I be healed, recovered, redeemed, if he were made less; so that God and the real Christian are agreed upon terms: Were I to make my terms, saith the Believer, I could not tell how to mend, or how to have other propounded than God hath made and propounded to me already. But let me take this into pieces, for here also shall we find deceits lye: See how the real Christian receiveth his Object, and by it we shall discover the Christian only in name.

First, The sound Christian receiveth the Person of Christ: Union is with the Person of Christ; though this must be first, yet I would not put that block in the way ⟨p. 252⟩of poor Christians: Did you embrace the Person of Christ first? Had you union with him first before you did meddle with his goods? Alas, many poor Christians are not so distinct, they cannot tell what they did first nor second; but it was Jesus Christ with all his goods which they felt the want of; they were lost, undone, had need of a Saviour, and willing also to receive him, Christ and Lord; this they can tell; but yet if you ask them, What is Christ to you? If you put the question, as they did to the Spouse,