A41331:99
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.
Object. But Christs calls the weary, the laden, the thirsty, &c. which denote a soul qualified.
Answ. What then? doth it follow, it was not their duty, to believe in him, and receive him, before they were laden, weary, &c? No man will love God as he ought, with that love his people do, but there must be a great work first wrought on the heart; but is it not his duty to love him before that work be done?
To this purpose speaks Christ, John 6.29. This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. Those to whom Christ gives this answer, did not appear to be men prepared, by ver. 26. yet this was the work of God, which at that time they were bound to do; then surely it was their duty.
Secondly, That famous Text, John 3.16. God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believed in him, &c. Here is a blessed offer of Christ: but to whom, to the prepared ones? The Text saith, Whosoever believes in him. Surely it is the duty then of every one, to whom this blessed offer is made, to accept him, and not to say, alas, I am not prepared, so this offer belongs not to me.