The sound believer. A treatise of evangelical conversion. Discovering the work of Christ's spirit,…

2. It is a sure Ground against all Fears, all Doubts of Presumption, all Sense of Unworthiness and of the Greatness of the Good promised, &c. For the Saints have many Fears whereby they dare not come, they fear they may presume, they see themselves most vile, and unworthy of the least Smile; the Benefits are so exceeding great, to which they are called, that they think it is too good for them, &c. But, Beloved, when the Soul sees evidently the Lord invites me, persuades me, commands me, waits for me, strives with me, that I would come in, and because ⟨p. 178⟩his Grace is free, therefore requires no more but only to come and take, come and drink: This forceth the Soul to confess, I am sure it is no Presumption to obey the Call of Christ; and what tho' I am unworthy, and this Good is exceeding great and precious, yet if it be the Lord's Grace to call such a poor Wretch to receive and accept of it, why should I not rather thankfully receive it, than out of my own Head superstitiously refuse it? But this I am sure and certain of, the Lord calls me thus to do; if God should speak from Heaven to you to come unto his Son, it is not so sure a Ground as the Call of God from out of the Oracle of his Word, in the blessed Gospel of his dear Son.

2. It is a sure Ground against all Fears, all Doubts of Presumption, all Sense of Unworthiness and of the Greatness of the Good promised, &c. For the Saints have many Fears whereby they dare not come, they fear they may presume, they see themselves most vile, and unworthy of the least Smile; the Benefits are so exceeding great, to which they are called, that they think it is too good for them, &c. But, Beloved, when the Soul sees evidently the Lord invites me, perswades me, commands me, waits for me, strives with me, that I would come in, and because ⟨p. 178⟩his Grace is free, therefore requires no more but only to come and take, come and drink: This forceth the Soul to confess, I am sure it is no Presumption to obey the Call of Christ; and what tho' I am unworthy, and this Good is exceeding great and precious, yet if it be the Lord's Grace to call such a poor Wretch to receive and accept of it, why should I not rather thankfully receive it, than out of my own Head superstitiously refuse it? But this I am sure and certain of, the Lord calls me thus to do; if God should speak from Heaven to you to come unto his Son, it is not so sure a Ground as the Call of God from out of the Oracle of his Word, in the blessed Gospel of his dear Son.