The Sincere Convert

All men are of this opinion, that there is no salvation, but by the merits of Jesus Christ; and because they hold fast this opinion, therefore they think they hold fast Jesus Christ in the hand of faith, and so perish by catching at their own catch, and hanging on their own fancy and shadow. Some others catch hold of Christ before they come to feel the want of Faith and ability to believe, and catching hold on him (like dust on a mans coat whom God will shake off, or like burrs and briers cleaving to ones garment, which the Lord will trample under foot) now they say they thank God, they have got comfort by this means, and though God killeth them, yet they will trust unto him, Mich. 3. 11.

All men are of this opinion, that there is no salvation, but by the merits of Jesus Christ; and because they hold fast this opinion, therefore they thinke they hold fast Iesus Christ in the hand of faith, and so perish by catching at their owne catch, and hanging on their owne fancy and shadow. Some others catch hold of Christ before they come to feele the want of Faith and abilitie to beleeve, and catching hold on him (like dust on a mans coate whom God will shake off, or like burrs and bryers cleaving to ones garment, which the Lord will trample under foot) now they say they thanke God, they have got comfort by this means, and though God killeth them, yet they will trust unto him, Mich. 3. 11.

It is in this respect a harder matter to ⟨p. 264⟩convert a man in England than in India, for there they have no such shifts and forts against our Sermons, to say they believe in Christ already, as most amongst us do: we cannot wrap off mens fingers from catching hold on Christ before they be fit for him; like a company of thieves in the street, you shall see an hundred hands scrambling for a jewel that is fallen there, that have least, nay nothing to do with it. Every man saith almost, I hope Christ is mine, I put my whole trust and confidence in him, and will not be beaten from this. What, must a man despair? must not a man trust unto Christ? thus, men will hope and trust, though they have no ground, no graces to prove they may lay hold and claim unto Christ. This hope scared out of his wits damns thousands, for I am persuaded if men did see themselves Christless creatures, as well as sinful creatures, they would cry out, Lord, what shall I do to be saved?