A49258:396
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.
the devil lulls them asleep, he lets them alone, and never troubles them. Luke 11.21. When the strong man possesseth the house, the goods are at peace: That is, when the devil of hell hath whole possession of the soul of a man, he is no whit tempted, his thoughts are at quiet. When the devil sees a man build upon a sandy and corrupt foundation, he will never shake that by a Temptation lest you should by shaking be awakened to look after a better and more enduring substance. When the devil sees you lulled asleep in a golden dream of presumption, he will never awaken you by temptation, but lets you sleep on, because he knows that sleep will be a sleep to death. As a man lying asleep on a steep rock, dreams merrily of Crowns and Kingdoms, but suddenly starting in joy, breaks his neck, and tumbles into the bottom of the Sea; so is it with a man▪ that harbours ungrounded persuasions of his good estate. That which a carnal man makes his evidence, that he is in a good condition, is an undoubted demonstration he is in a bad. You shall have a wicked man, when he hears a godly man to be troubled in mind and wounded in spirit, he will tell you, he thanks God he was never troubled since he was born, the devil never disturbed him, and he hath had a strong faith ever since he can remember. Alas, Beloved, this is a sad sign; thou makest ⟨p. 125⟩•his a sign of thy comfort, whereas indeed it is a demonstration of thy want of a sound assurance; for were thy assurance good, the Devil would never let thee alone, but would still be labouring to make thee cast away thy confidence; but being bad; he would have thee nourish it still. We say those Oxen that are fed in greenest pastures, they are nearest the slaughter; when the poor lean Ox that hath the yoke & whip every day, and is at daily labour, is long-lived, and in a better condition. Those men that the Devil lets alone, and never tempts, that are as fatted Oxen, never come under the whip and yoke, and never are troubled; it is an argument they are near the slaughter, and under a great deal of danger of their souls: but those that are under the yoke, that are often tempted, and the pricks of Satan lie upon them; this is an argument their comforts are right, and their evidence good, because so assaulted and opposed by the Devil.
the devil lulls them asleep, he lets them alone, and never troubles them.