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

Fifthly, Suppose, saith the poor Christian, I should draw up the Conclusion, and say, Christ is mine, my sins are pardoned, and if this should not be true, where am I then? hath not this been the case of many a hypocrite and unsound believer? have not they thus said, and thus believed, and after all prove rotten? and may it not be my case as well as theirs? for they appeared to have more than I have: these examples make the real Christian to tremble, he dare not speak or think such high things, for fear his fall should be more dreadful. How Satan can work in all these, I do not mention, I will not multiply Heads.

Sixthly, To draw up this Conclusion, Christ is mine, forgiveness is mine, will require the assistance and testimony too of that good Spirit; when he helps the Soul to make his Syllogism indeed, the Soul shall be able to draw up his Conclusion, according to his Premises. He is called the Comforter, and this his Office none can perform but himself; if others help, it is a he conveys himself by them. Such is the work of Conversion, from the first work of Illumination to the last; all the things that come within the compass of a real Christian, they do all depend upon the Spirit of God: Men shall know, it is not their great learning, high parts, &c. that can do any thing belonging to a real Christian, without the Spirit of God: His work doth not depend upon the greatness of mens abilities, God hath no need of them; yea, we find, that as great parts hinder men from sound conversion, (that is a low thing, fit for Mechanics) so where men have by the work of Gods Spirit attained to saving Grace, their great parts have been great hinderances to their settling and comfort: Many a poor sincere Christian, whose natural abilities are but low, shall be able to draw up the Conclusion and walk in the comfort of it, that Christ is mine, when other great heads, though they have Grace, shall not be able to reach it; their excellent parts do but help them to be the more acute Disputants against themselves, snarl, and baffle themselves: No flesh shall glory in his presence, 1 Cor. 1.29. Hence we have known great Scholars, able Divines, have been glad to confer with, and listen to the experiences of plain Christians in these cases: Thus the eye hath need of the hand,