A49258:273
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. Hearing the word with delight, is no evidence of your effectual calling, in case this be a fickle and unconstant hearing. To delight to hear the word, because the word comes in request, because there is no danger in hearing; this wicked men may delight to do, when yet if times of persecution should arise, they would be fickle, and leave off their hearing. Matth. 13.20, 21. It is said of the stony ground, that the seed that fell among stones, are they that receive the word with joy (there is their delight to hear) but not having deep root, in times of persecution fell away. Here the Scripture Anatomizeth a man, that he may hear the word with joy sometimes, when the current of the times run for Religion, when the word comes in fashion among a people; but if persecution should attend the word, and a prison attend hearing, you would then see how flag their delights would be in hearing the word: and in this case you may delight to hear the word, yet be no evidence of your effectual calling.
4. In case your hearing be a selfish hearing: As now, many men may hear the word with delight: why? Because they may get profit by hearing, and praise and vain-glory by hearing the word, and this may make them wonderfully delight to hear. Luke 12.1. There was an innumerable company went to hear Jesus Christ, insomuch the crowd was so great, that one trod upon another to hear him: yet Christ saith of them, John 6.26. They come to hear me preach, but not for the word I teach, or the miracles I do, but for the loaves they eat of. It was not love to Christs person, or his Ministry, but only because ⟨p. 80⟩they saw Christ with a few fishes to feed so many men, they seeing of this miracle, this made them frequent the Ministry and word of Jesus Christ. Many men may hear the word, when selfish advantage accompanies hearing, to get more trading, to be better thought of among their neighbours; this is a selfish hearing, and in this case you may hear, yet not be effectually called. There is a phrase in