The sound believer, or, A treatise of evangelical conversion discovering the work of Christs…The sound beleever, or, A treatise of evangelicall conversion discovering the work of Christs…

What necessity is there of this compunction, to succeed conviction?

¹I speak now of necessity in way of ordinary dispensation, not of Gods unusual and extraordinary way of working, where he useth neither Law nor Gospel (as ordinarily he doth) to work by. Many have been nibbling lately at this doctrine, and demand, What need is there of sorrow and compunction of heart? A man may be converted only by the Gospel, and God may let in sweetness and joy without any sense of sin or misery, and in my experience I have found it so; others godly and gracious also feel it so; why therefore do any press such a necessity of coming in by this back-door unto Christ? This point I conceive is very weighty, and much danger in denying the truth of it; yet withal, there needs much tenderness in handling of it, lest any stumble; and therefore before I lay down the reasons to show the necessity of it; give me leave to propound these rules both for the clearing of the point, and answering sundry objections usually made about this point.

¹I speak now of necessity in way of ordinary dispensation, not of Gods unusuall and extraordinary way of working, where hee useth neither Law nor Gospell (as ordina•rily he doth) to work by. Many have been nibling lately at this doctrine, and demand, What need is there of sorrow and compunction of heart? A man may be converted only by the Gospell, and God may let in sweetnesse and joy without any sense of sinne or misery, and in my experience I have found it so; others godly and gracious also feele it so; why therefore doe any presse such a necessity of comming in by this back-doore unto Christ? This point I conceive is very weighty, and much danger in denying the truth of it; yet withall, there needs much tendernesse in handling of it, lest any stumble; and therefore before I lay downe the reasons to shew the necessity of it; give me leave to propound these rules both for the clearing of the point, and answering sundry objections usually made about this point.