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

Thirdly, If Christians ought not to conclude their state, according to the Question, then examination were a vain thing, and Christians called, and bound to that which is but a vain duty, for there is nothing comes of it. God hath given man a rational Soul, set up his candle and light within him, made able to reflect upon it self, try and know what is in himself, it is able to draw Conclusions from Premises: hence when the Lord sets him upon examination, he sets him about a rational work, to which he hath fitted and enabled him. If by it he be able to see the Minor proposition, convinced so as he dare not deny, but such a work of faith (if this be true faith which you have opened, as I am sure it is) I do feel in me, why then is he not as able, and ought he not to infer the Conclusion, and so perform the duty of examination, which is very profitable, and not vain as those Christians make it, who can come to the Minor proposition, and cannot deny it, yet wave the Conclusion; when as examination respects the Conclusion, and hath not its scope and aim till it determines there.

Thirdly, If Christians ought not to conclude their state, accoridng to the Question, then examination were a vain thing, and Christians called, and bound to that which is but a vain duty, for there is nothing comes of it. God hath given man a rational Soul, set up his candle and light within him, made able to reflect upon it self, try and know what is in himself, it is able to draw Conclusions from Premises: hence when the Lord sets him upon examination, he sets him about a rational work, to which he hath fitted and enabled him. If by it he be able to see the Minor proposition, convinced so as he dare not deny, but such a work of faith (if this be true faith which you have opened, as I am sure it is) I do feel in me, why then is he not as able, and ought he not to infer the Conclusion, and so perform the duty of examination, which is very profitable, and not vain as those Christians make it, who can come to the Minor proposition, and cannot deny it, yet wave the Conclusion; when as examination respects the Conclusion, and hath not its scope and aim till it determines there.

Fourthly, Rejoicing in the Lord, thankfulness, and praise, are duties to which all Christians are bound; the Scripture calls upon them in several places, to perform these duties. The drawing up this Conclusion upon the forementioned Premises, is that which is the ground of all these duties; when the Christian can say, Christ is mine, my sins are forgiven, God and I are reconciled, this Soul,