A49258:133
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.
3. Those that have often sinned against Conscience, that do as it were lay Conscience wast; that are prodigal of sinning, not caring for sinning against never so much light, and never so much conviction. Beloved, you shall not have so easy a coming to heaven: God will first lay many strokes upon you, and draw heavy groans from you. David saith, By reason of thy terrors I am afraid, and my bones are dried up: You are subject to most horror and astonishment, that do sin against Conscience. Again,
3. Those that have often sinn'd against Conscience, that do as it were lay Conscience wast; that are prodigall of sinning, not caring for sinning against never so much light, and never so much conviction. Beloved, you shall not have so easie a coming to heaven: God will first lay many stroaks upon you, and draw heavie groans from you. David saith, By reason of thy terrors I am afraid, and my bones are dried up: You are subject to most horror and astonishment, that do sin against Conscience. Again,
4. When God hath done thus, made you see the aggravated nature of sin, shown you your misery by reason of sin, and brought you into such a condition that you cannot tell how to be saved; then 4. this is Gods Method, to take you off from your own bottom, beat you off from resting on duties, and beat you off from dependence upon graces, and beat you off from every thing in your selves. This was Gods work in Paul, Phil. 3.9, 10. I was, saith Paul, Circumcised the eighth day, of the ⟨p. 30⟩stock of Israel, of the Tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; that is, my father and mother were Hebrews: what then? and I was, touching the Law, blameless, Mark, he was so standing upon his own legs, upon his own bottom; that he thought himself a holy man, a man blameless touching the Law. But now, saith he, what things were gain to me, I count loss for Christ; yea doubtless, I count all things lost, that I might be found in Christ, not having mine own righteousness. Here Paul before Conversion depended upon his holy living, and honest dealing; but now I am converted, and see my folly; now I desire to be found in Christ, not having mine own righteousness. See how God did unbottome Paul from any goodness in himself, to make him rest upon Jesus Christ: and this is Gods work with thee; he will unbottome thee from thy self, and make thee see thou canst not be thine own Saviour.