A41331:88
The real Christian, or, A treatise of effectual calling wherein the work of God…
The real Christian, or, A treatise of effectual calling wherein the work of God is drawing the soul to Christ ... : to which is added, in the epistle to the reader, a few words concerning Socinianism ... / by Giles Firmin ...The real Christian, or, A treatise of effectual calling wherein the work of God is drawing the soul to Christ ... : to which is added, in the epistle to the reader, a few words concerning Socinianisme ... / by Giles Firmin ...
London: printed for Dorman Newman, 1670
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
The scope of my book being to help & remove stumbling blocks out of the way of a tender Christian, who would fain be sound, and get its work cleared out; let me lay down my thoughts concerning Preparations in general, under these following Positions.
First Position. It is the duty of all the sons and daughters of Adam, who hear the Gospel preached, and Christ offered to them, to believe in, or receive Christ, be they prepared or not prepared.
I say, it is the Duty incumbent upon them All: Not that it is their duty, mediantibus preparationibus, if you be prepared; but not your duty, if you be not prepared. So that my duty depends upon my preparation, not so; but I say, though men be not prepared, yet they ought to believe it is their duty to receive Christ. What men will do is another thing [I shall speak to that in my next Position] but now I am speaking of what they ought to do.
If you ask me, of what use is this Position to a gracious heart troubled about its state? I answer, If it be made good [as I doubt not but I shall make it good] it is the best answer thou canst give to the objections which thy timorous heart, and a cavilling devil do make against thy believing in Christ, or thy Faith, from the want of these preparations: no answer like it, experience you what I say.