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

Ministers may teach Christians what objects they should meditate upon, but the thoughts of Christians will run there where they are most pinched. Other Christians if they be not held down with the former, yet they may be so oppressed with sad thoughts arising from debts, debasements, unequal yoke-fellow, long sickness and pains, with poverty attending, it may be several Children about them, and a grumbling Husband, because the Wife doth not work to maintain them; some from cold and hunger; that these are like the Israelites, when Moses told them comfortable things from God, Exod. 6. from the 6. to the 9. ver. but in ver. 9. They hearkened not to him through anguish of spirit.

Ministers may teach Christians what objects they should meditate upon, but the thoughts of Christians will run there where they are most pinched. Other Christians if they be not held down with the former, yet they may be so oppressed with sad thoughts arising from debts, debasements, unequal yoak-fellow, long sickness and pains, with poverty attending, it may be several Children about them, and a grumbling Husband, because the Wife doth not work to maintain them; some from cold and hunger; that these are like the Israelites, when Moses told them comfortable things from God, Exod. 6. from the 6. to the 9. ver. but in ver. 9. They hearkened not to him through anguish of spirit.

But oh say some, this is their want of Grace, want of Faith, meditation of the joys of Heaven. Very well said, and I hope you are one that have been in the same condition, owed more than you were worth, had a Family to maintain, the Creditors called, and you were one very careful that the Gospel should receive no dishonour by you; you are one that have been aloft, and now are low; you are one who have been under long pains and sickness, with poor Children about you, a grumbling Husband, and when you rose out of your sick bed, had two or three small sticks to make a fire to warm you, had nothing but a little oatmeal and water, or some such mean thing to nourish you; it may be your sick stomach did desire such a thing, but had nothing to get it: you have known what it is to have an unequal yoke-fellow, that daily follows you with unhandsome carriages, and you under all these have born up bravely by your faith, above sinking and afflicting thoughts, and solaced your Soul with the joys of Heaven; if it be so, magnify mercy, and yet pity those who would walk with God uprightly, and do for the main, but have not yet attained to that measure you have; but if you have not been under these conditions, and experienced what the temptations are, if you will teach them their duty how they should walk, do it, but yet let it be with