A49258:322
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.
First, it doth arise from some seeming defect they apprehend to be in the manner of their calling: They say, I am not called in such a manner a• I see others are. As thus. Think they, I see other men when they are converted, that their humiliations are great, I see that they have horror of conscience, that they are wrought upon by the terrors of the Law, that they are exceedingly humbled before God: Now for my part, I never found this manner of Gods working in my soul, I never found that I could see my sins clearly, or could b• humbled for them greatly; I never found those humiliations and legal terrors which I hear many men talk of, and this ⟨p. 94⟩makes me doubt whether I am effectually called or no. Now to take off this, I shall only speak three things by way of Answer.
First, it doth arise from some seeming defect they apprehend to be in the manner of their calling: They say, I am not called in such a manner a• I see others are. As thus. Think they, I see other men when they are converted, that their humiliations are great, I see that they have horrour of conscience, that they are wrought upon by the terrors of the Law, that they are exceedingly humbled before God: Now for my part, I never found this manner of Gods working in my soul, I never found that I could see my sins clearly, or could b• humbled for them greatly; I never found those humiliations and legal terrors which I hear many men talk of, and this ⟨p. 94⟩makes me doubt whether I am eff•ctually called or no. Now to take off this, I shall onely speak three things by way of Answer.
First, That it is true; God doth proceed after this manner with some, yet God is not tied and confined to one and the same way of working with all. What if he come to you in a calm, when he comes to others in a Tempest, if God come to me to you in a more peaceable and peaceable and quiet way? What if God do not pierce your heart, as he did those 3000 in the Acts, if he kindly open thy heart like Lidia's without noise? God is not to be tied to one and the same way in converting all. As 'tis said