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

To this he answers: The Rule is very sweet but certain; when he takes all the Scripture, and embraceth it as spoken to him, he may then take any particular promise boldly; my meaning is, when a Christian takes hold and wrestles with God, for the accomplishment of all the promises of the New Testament; when he sets all the Commandments before him, as his Rule, and Compass, and Guide to walk after; when he applies all the threatenings to drive him nearer unto Christ, the end of them; this no Hypocrite can do; this the Saints should do, and by this may know when the Lord speaks in any particular unto them; Thus he.

To this he answers: The Rule is very sweet but certain; when he takes all the Scripture, and embraceth it as spoken to him, he may then take any particular promise boldly; my meaning is, when a Christian takes hold and wrastles with God, for the accomplishment of all the promises of the New Testament; when he sets all the Commandements before him, as his Rule, and Compass, and Guide to walk after; when he applies all the threatnings to drive him nearer unto Christ, the end of them; this no Hypocrite can do; this the Saints shoul do, and by this may know when the Lord speaks in any particular unto them; Thus he.

This Rule is sure, and will deceive no man, if he do not deceive himself in the application of the Rule; look you to that Christian, and you have a full answer to your question.

Object. Is that part of his answer right, which teacheth Christians to apply all the threatenings to drive them to Christ? Doth this agree with a true Christian to be acted with threatenings? Is not this slavish, and unworthy of him who hath ever tasted of the love of God, that he must be driven to Christ, to duty, and taken off from sin, by threatenings, fears of hell, &c.