A49258:335
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.
Secondly, Again in is clear in Scripture, God may use Ministers that are wicked themselves to convert others. The Ministers of the seven Churches of Asia, doubtless some of them were bad men; Paul tells you, 1 Cor. 9.17. I keep under my body, lest when I preach to others, I my self may be a castaway. Intimating, that a man may preach to others, and may be a means to save others, and yet not be saved himself. So 1 Cor. 13.1. Ministers in this case may be as Cooks are. A Cook may dress many a dish, and let them go through his hands to furnish a large and stately Table, yet of all these dishes himself hardly taste one; So Ministers, they may dress many a dish for their hearers, yet they not lick their fingers, or taste of this spiritual food themselves. As in the building of the Ark, there were many men built Noah's Ark, to save others, that were drowned themselves; so many men may build an Ark by preaching the Word, and the ways of God to save other mens souls, when they may be drowned themselves. Hence it is the Scripture tells us of Stars that fell from heaven; many Ministers, that seemed godly Ministers, like Stars in their Generation, yet they fell, ⟨p. 101⟩and became wicked and loose. And I remember Doctor Pembleton a famous Minister in the days of Queen Mary; and a man whose Ministry had converted many Christians, yet at length he himself turned to be a Papist. Now these Christians did never misdoubt or suspect their conversion, because the man that converted them, was a bad man; They might be good people, though he was a bad Minister: so that this is no ground in the world; though I confess it is not ordinary, that God makes wicked men means of conversion, but God ordinarily crowns the Word most in the mouth of a godly Minister, yet sometimes I say, God may use a means to convert souls. And I would give you these reasons to prove, that a wicked man may convert souls, and that God ties not conversion to a godly Minister. Because first, the efficacy of the word doth not depend upon men, but upon Jesus Christ; and Christ may make use of whom he pleaseth.
Secondly, Again in is clear in Scripture, God may use Ministers that are wicked themselves to convert others. The Ministers of the seven Churches of Asia, doubtlesse some of them were bad men; Paul tells you,