A49258:367
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.
Sixthly, Give diligence to remove this hinderance, to wit, Pride in your gifts, and dependence upon you graces. Pride and dependence, they are not only murderers of comforts, but they murder our graces also; and if God sees you swell with pride, because you abound in grace, he will soon prick that swelling bladder. It is the observation of a Modern Divine, that exaltings of spirit after assurance attained, it will inevitably expose a Christian, either to great discomforts, or to great sins. Hence the Scripture makes mention, that pride of your gifts is not only an enemy to the comfort, but an enemy to grace; not only an enemy to the comforts from grace, but to the very having of grace. Hab. 2.4. If a mans heart be exalted, his spirit is not upright within him. James 4.6. God resists the proud, and gives grace to the humble. So that pride is not only an enemy to your comforts, but to the very getting of grace likewise; when the branches of a Vine grow luxuriant, they shall have the pruning hook. And thus you have the first sort of helps laid down to you; In case you would get assurance, you must use diligence to avoid those things that may be a hinderance to you in getting assurance of your call.
Sixtly, Give diligence to remove this hinderance, to wit, Pride in your guifts, and dependance upon you graces. Pride and dependance, they are not onely murderers of comforts, but they murder our graces also; and if God sees you swell with pride, because you abound in grace, he will soon prick that swelling bladder. It is the observation of a Modern Divine, that exaltings of spirit after assurance attained, it will inevitably expose a Christian, either to great discomforts, or to great sins. Hence the Scripture makes mention, that pride of your gifts is not onely an enemy to the comfort, but an enemy to grace; not onely an enemy to the comforts from grace, but to the very having of grace. Hab. 2.4. If a mans heart be exalted, his spirit is not upright within him. James 4.6. God resists the proud, and gives grace to the humble. So that pride is not onely an enemy to your comforts, but to the very getting of grace likewise; when the branches of a Vine grow luxuriant, they shall have the pruning hook. And thus you have the first sort of helps laid down to you; In case you would get assurance, you must use diligence to avoid those things that may be a hinderance to you in getting assurance of your call.