A49258:339
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, peradventure you judge that you are not enabled to pray, because you want expressions in prayer, though you have affections. Now if you judge your inability to pray, because you want expressions only, you judge amiss, because prayer is to be judged by the affections, not by the expressions. Expressions they are but the breath of nature, a natural voluble tongue may tumble out expressions; whereas affections in prayer, they are the breath and fruit of the holy Spirit. Therefore do not judge you cannot pray, because you have not such fluent expressions as others use, for the very essence of a prayer lies in the heart, and therefore it is said, when the Spirit of God teacheth men to pray, it teacheth them not only in expressions, but with sighs and groans that cannot be uttered. Rom. 8.26. When the Spirit moves the heart, and makes you sigh out your requests, and sorrow out your supplications, you pray best of all.
First, peradventure you judge that you are not enabled to pray, because you want expressions in prayer, though you have affections. Now if you judge your inability to pray, because you want expressions only, you judge amisse, because prayer is to be judged by the affections, not by the expressions. Expressions they are but the breath of nature, a natural voluble tongue may tumble out expressions; whereas affections in prayer, they are the breath and fruit of the holy Spirit. Therefore do not judge you cannot pray, because you have not such fluent expressions as others use, for the very essence of a prayer lies in the heart, and therefore it is said, when the Spirit of God teacheth men to pray, it teacheth them not onely in expressions, but with sighs and groans that cannot be uttered. Rom. 8.26. When the Spirit moves the heart, and makes you sigh out your requests, and sorrow out your supplications, you pray best of all.
Secondly, you that judge your inability to pray, and therefore think you are not called, because you cannot call upon God, I would say this unto you: That the best of Gods children have found a great difference in their spirits in reference to paying duties; the best of Gods children do not always pray alike. Sometimes the affections of godly men are as swift in prayer, as the Chariots of Aminadab; otherwhiles they drive as heavily as Pharaohs Chariots when the wheels were off. Sometime the people of God are burning in their affections, hot as fire; otherwhiles they are frozen in their affections, cold as ice. None of Gods people are in their carriage always alike towards God in prayer.