A49258:296
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.
7. Lastly, Every change is not an evidence of effectual calling, because there may be a change in the life, proceeding from a wrong principle, and tending to a wrong end: As thus, a man may change his life from a wrong principle; what's that? I will name two wrong principles of a change in unconverted men. As
First, Men may change their lives, because of some present outward affliction that lies upon them in this life, their afflictions may enforce them to change their ways, and not be so bad as in former days, Jonah 1.5. when they were in a storm in the ship, every man went and prayed to his God. What a change was here? yet the change was only because of the danger, they were in danger of death, and therefore they grew religious: Every man when a danger and affliction lies upon him, that will make him betake himself to God, and be a better minded man. And so Pharaoh, when God sent ten sore plagues upon him, the plagues did enforce Pharaoh to confess his sin, and beg of Moses to pray for him; and yet this change in Pharaoh was only because of the present affliction that lay upon him which wrought this change Jer. 22.23. Oh Inhabitants of Lebanon, how gracious wilt thou ⟨p. 87⟩be when thy pangs come upon thee? When pangs and afflictions were upon them, then they would be a gracious people. There is many a man will change his life, when God brings pangs, and death, and sickness upon him; these are forced ways that God takes, to make a wicked and stout-hearted wretch change his life, Isa. 16.12. Its said there, When Moab is weary, Moab will come to my Eanctuary and pray. What a change was here in Moab? Moab, an Idolatrous company, that hated Gods people, and were enemies to all goodness; yet when they were weary, and Gods hand lay heavy upon them, then they would pray,