A49258:420
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.
Fifthly, Assurance mus• be managed with patience in bearing any outward affliction that you may meet with in the world. Assured Christians must be patient Christians, Heb. 10.34. They suffered joyfully the spoiling of their goods, knowing that they had in heaven a b•tter and more enduring substance; and that made the Saints of God tush and scorn at all the losses they met with in the world. Suppose a man be at Sea, and have precious Jewels and Pearls aboard with him; if the man can be but sure he shall save his own life, and save his Jewels, though he lose the Casket, though he lose the box, that will not much trouble him: Thou that art sure of heaven, thou canst never lose that Pearl, thy soul; thou mayest lose the shell, thy life; thou mayest lose the Casket, thou shalt never lose the Jewel; and shall that trouble thee? If thou art an assured Christian, be sure whatever storm of Temptation blow upon thee, thou shalt only lose the box, never lose the Pearl. This therefore should make assured Christians to be patient Christians, what ever they shall undergo here in the world. I have read a story in Fox his Acts and Monuments, of a woman, who when she came to be tried for her Religion before Bonner, that bloody Bishop; he threatened her, he would take away her husband from her; saith she, Christ is my husband; I will take away thy child: Christ, saith she, is better to me then ten sons; I will strip thee, saith he, of all thy outward comforts: yea but Christ is mine, and you cannot strip me of him, saith sh•. The thoughts of this bore up the woman's heart, spoil her of all, and take away all, yet Christ was hers, and they could not take him away. O Beloved, ⟨p. 138⟩when thy soul lives in the assurance of Gods love, and of thy calling to grace and glory; this shall make you wonderful patient to endure what ever you should meet with here below. It was the speech of that famous servant of God, holy Bradford, when a company of his fellow-prisoners were that morning to go to be burnt, saith Bradford, O my fellow-sufferers, be cheerful, for though we are all of us to have a bitter breakfast, yet truly we shall have a cheerful dinner. Here you see how assured Christians, their comforts in God did so transport their hearts, that it made them overlook, and with patience bear all afflictions they were to meet with. You have a remarkable phrase,