A49258:12
A treatise of effectual calling and election In XVI. sermons, on 2 Peter 1.10.…
A treatise of effectual calling and election In XVI. sermons, on 2 Peter 1.10. Wherein a Christian may discern, whether yet he be effectually called and elected. And what course he ought to take that he may attain the assurance thereof. Preached by that faithful servant of Christ, Mr. Christopher Love, late minister of Laurence Jury, London.A treatise of effectual calling and election In XVI. sermons, on 2 Peter 1.10. Wherein a Christian may discern, whether yet he be effectually called and elected. And what course he ought to take that he may attain the assurance thereof. Preached by that faithfull servant of Christ, Mr. Christopher Love, late minister of Laurence Jury, London.
London: printed for John Rothwell, 1655
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.
But as this assurance is excellent, so it is hard to come by; Difficilia quae pulchar. 'Tis not to be obtained without a great deal of labour and diligence. 'Tis usually the fruit of much prayer, and care, and humiliation, and long-waiting; those that come by it so easily, and get it so soon, have great cause to suspect that their assurance is not of the right kind; Carnal security and presumption is easily attained, but Christian assurance not without great difficulty.
But as this assurance is excellent, so it is hard to come by; Difficilia quae pulchar. 'Tis not to be obtained without a great deal of labour and diligence. 'Tis usually the fruit of much prayer, and care, and humiliation, and long-waiting; those that come by it so easily, and get it so soon, have great cause to suspect that their assurance is not of the right kinde; Carnal security and presumption is e•sily attained, but Christian assurance not without great difficulty.
'Tis therefore much to be lamented, that there is so litt•e diligence used, for obtaining the assurance of our effectual Calling and eternal Election, which i• of such great concernment ⟨image 3⟩[…] ⟨image 3⟩[…] ⟨image 4⟩to every Christian. What care do men take, and what diligence do they give to make sure their lands, and goods, and worldly estates? They cannot be at rest till they have secured these. But upon what uncertainties do they venture the salvation of their precious and immortal souls? They run the most desperate hazard of their eternal salvation; never consider whether they are in the way to heaven or hell, until they drop irrecoverably into the bottomless pit. Oh what a strange madness possesseth the minds of men, that they should look no more to their own safety; that they think it wisdom to secure every thing except their own souls. What evil have they deserved of you, that you should neglect them so much?