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

Answ. The true sign of it is this, when a man can be grieved for the very disobedience of God in his evil word or deed, though he should never be punished, ¹and though there were neither Heaven nor Hell.

1. 11 Pet. 2.19.

By these men Christians are put to try their Sonship, whether Sons, or Slaves; also to try their repentance and godly sorrow; here is the only cause and the true sign set down, whereby they must try themselves; you repent, you are sorrowful for offending of God; you worship him, you serve him, though there were neither Heaven nor Hell: give in your answers Christians, you are sure thus it is with you, and you can trust your hearts, that they say true, if they do say as these Divines have said before. Calonius to prove his Assertion brings in Antigonus his judgment, who taught his Scholars this kind of Divinity; and tells us out of Menasse Ben Israel, that Zadok and Baytos, two of Antigonus Scholars, did misinterpret their Masters Doctrine, as if their ⟨p. 304⟩Master denied any other life after this, and from thence took occasion to deny the immortality of the Soul, and from this Zadok rose the Heresy and Sect of the Sadducees; thus he: Of these Sadducees we read often in the Gospels, and in Acts 23.8. The Sadducees say there is no Resurrection, neither Angel, nor Spirit. Were there neither reward nor punishment, Hell nor Heaven, I believe the number of Sons, and such Penitents, would be but very few. Sadducees would not be esteemed Heretics. Such Doctrine would produce, if not vile Heresies, yet vile practises.

By these men Christians are put to try their Sonship, whether Sons, or Slaves; also to try their repentance and godly sorrow; here is the only cause and the true sign set down, whereby they must try themselves; you repent, you are sorrowful for offending of God; you worship him, you serve him, though there were neither Heaven nor Hell: give in your answers Christians, you are sure thus it is with you, and you can trust your hearts, that they say true, if they do say as these Divines have said before. Calonius to prove his Assertion brings in Antigonus his judgment, who taught his Scholars this kind of Divinity; and tells us out of Menasse Ben Israel, that Zadok and Baytos, two of Antigonus Scholars, did misinterpret their Masters Doctrine, as if their