A49258:241
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.
Thirdly, You that plead your outward calling in the world, to be an excuse why you cannot hearken to your effectual calling by Jesus Christ; consider this, that this plea hath damned many a soul before you, and will damn you also, if you look not to it. This hath been an ancient plea, Luk. 14.18, 19, 20. When Christ called a company of men there to come to him, what excuse have they? Saith one, I have bought a yoke of oxen, and I must prove them. I have bought a Farm, saith another, and I must manage that. I have maria wife, and therefore cannot come, saith a third. All these were lawful callings, and yet these callings kept them from Heaven, and kept them from Jesus Christ. You read Acts 24.25. When Paul did startle Felix's conscience by a powerful Sermon of judgement to come, Felix's heart trembled; but mark now, how did Felix put off the power of the word? Why, Now, saith he, I am not at leisure, but go thy ways, and in convenient time I will send for thee to speak of this matter. As if he should say, I am now to go about some other business, about the affairs of my Kingdom, and cannot have leisure to hear thee now: and so by some outward employment, he jostled the power of the word from his heart, and had not convenient time to embrace Jesus Christ.
Thirdly, You that plead your outward calling in the world, to be an excuse why you cannot hearken to your effectual calling by Jesus Christ; consider this, that this plea hath damned many a soul before you, and wil damn you also, if you look not to it. This hath been an ancient plea, Luk. 14.18, 19, 20. When Christ called a companie of men there to come to him, what excuse have they? Saith one, I have bought a yoke of oxen, and I must prove them. I have bought a Farm, saith another, and I must manage that. I have marria wife, and therefore cannot come, saith a third. All these were lawful callings, and yet these callings kept them from Heaven, and kept them from Jesus Christ. You read Acts 24.25. When Paul did startle Felix's conscience by a powerful Sermon of judgement to come, Felix's heart trembled; but mark now, how did Felix put off the power of the word? Why, Now, saith he, I am not at leasure, but go thy waies, and in convenient time I will send for thee to speak of this matter. As if he should say, I am now to go about some other business, about the affairs of my Kingdome, and cannot have leasure to hear thee now: and so by some outward imployment, he justled the power of the word from his heart, and had not convenient time to imbrace Jesus Christ.