A49258:436
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, there are some things you are to avoid and take heed of, in case you would perpetuate assurance in your hearts, and those I shall comprise under six heads.
Secondly, there are some things you are to avoid and take heed of, in case you would perpetuate assurance in your hearts, and those I shall comprize under six heads.
First, Take heed you do not wallow in, and give your selves to sensual joy and pleasure. There is nothing in the world will more eat out spiritual joy and that effectual assurance in your hearts, then giving your selves too much to carnal joy and sensual pleasure, which takes away the hearts. The more your joy runs in that channel after sensual pleasure, the less it runs towards God, and the comforts that are above; godly sorrow is the seed-plot of spiritual joy.
First, Take heed you do not wallow in, and give your selves to sensual joy and pleasure. There is nothing in the world will more eat out spiritual joy and that effectual assurance in your hearts, then giving your selyes too much to carnal joy and sensual pleasure, which takes away the hearts. The more your joy runs in that channel after sensual pleasure, the less it runs towards God, and the comforts that are above; godly sorrow is the seed-plot of spiritual joy.
Secondly, The evil of earthly-mindedness, take heed of that, if ever you would keep your comforts. There is nothing in the world will more blast your comforts, then an earthly mind to be still poring upon the things of the world. What the Philosophers say of the Eclipse of the Sun, that it is occasioned by the intervening of the Moon between the Sun and our sight is is true in this case. The Moon is an Emblem of the world. If the world get between Christ the Sun of righteousness and our fight, it will darken our sight of Jesus Christ, and bring Eclipses upon our comforts and graces. Those men that dig deep nito the bowels of the earth, they are oftentimes choked and stifled by damps that come from the earth: So it is with Christians, those that will be ever poring and digging about the things of this world, it is a thousand to one if from worldly things a damp doth not arise to smother their comforts, and quench their graces; the world pierceth with sorrow, therefore must needs damp your joys. A candle, though it may shine to the view of all, yet put it but under ground, and (though there be not a puff of wind) the very damps will stifle the light of the flame. Beloved, though you shine like candles in your comforts, yet bring them but under the earth, and a clod of earth will stifle