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

For some men God kills the fatted Calf, (Luke 15.) puts on the Robe, the Ring, they have their Music, when other Christians may say (as once a good Christian did, though not in a murmuring way as the elder Brother) the Lord was never pleased to give them one Kid to rejoice. How heartily have we seen poor people at the door feeding upon the Scraps, which these within at the Feast have left upon their Trenchers? How thankful ⟨p. 324⟩would some poor Christians be, might they but enjoy the scraps of other Christians, that is, such things as they neither ask God, nor thank God for; yet though they have begged them ten years, and ten twice told, could not prevail with God for such favours. These may meditate indeed, but what do they meditate? Thy heart shall meditate terror, Isai. 33.18. They do so, they meditate terrors, sorrows, despondencies: Alas, little do we know what others go through, and it is impossible we should know, unless we were in their conditions, and felt what they do: So that the question is not, whether a man be poor or rich, a servant or free, as if they who are rich and free, might as well hold their minds fixed long in the meditation of the Joys of Heaven, as they can spare time better than the poor, or the servant, to hear a Sermon.

For some men God kills the fatted Calf, (Luke 15.) puts on the Robe, the Ring, they have their Musick, when other Christians may say (as once a good Christian did, though not in a murmuring way as the elder Brother) the Lord was never pleased to give them one Kid to rejoyce. How heartily have we seen poor people at the door feeding upon the Scraps, which these within at the Feast have left upon their Trenchers? How thankful ⟨p. 324⟩would some poor Christians be, might they but enjoy the scraps of other Christians, that is, such things as they neither ask God, nor thank God for; yet though they have begged them ten years, and ten twice told, could not prevail with God for such favours. These may meditate indeed, but what do they meditate? Thy heart shall meditate terror,