A49258:500
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, That the want of Assurance is not simply prejudicial to the salvation of a Christian, though it be prejudicial to the consolation of a Christian. It is no way prejudicial to your salvation, but you may be saved, though you are not assured. For first, this want of assurance is no prejudice to your free access to the Throne of grace: you may come freely to present your requests to God, though you are not assured of acceptance. As it is the saying of an Author: Though God shows thee not his face, yet he may lend thee his ear, when thou comest to him in prayer; God lends many ⟨p. 162⟩a Christian an ear in prayer, though they see not his face, nor the glimpse of his favour. Secondly, Thy want of Assurance shall not hinder thy success in prayer, but thou mayest go away with an ample return, though thou doest not go away with fullness of comfort. Benjamin when he was with Joseph in Egypt, he had a token of love from Joseph, a golden Cup in his sack, though he knew it not. This is a lively Emblem of the carriage of our Joseph, Jesus Christ, to his young Benjamins, who may put a love token in your hearts, and may give you a golden cup, and give you grace, and you not know that grace is there. And lastly, It doth not hinder your reconciliation, but you may be at peace with God, though you know not that the agreement is made up; there may be real friendship between God and a Believer, though there may be some seeming enmity. Thou holdest me for thine enemy, saith Job, yet God did not, though he thought so. Zion said, the Lord hath forsaken me, and my God hath forgotten me, Isa. 49.14. But God had not done so, for he tells them a little before, almost in one breath, Though a Mother may forget her sucking child, yet will I not forget you: So that there may be some seeming jars when there is no enmity at all between God and you.
Sixthly, That the want of Assurance is not simply prejudicial to the salvation of a Christian, though it be prejudicial to the consolation of a Christian. It is no way prejudicial to your salvation, but you may be saved, though you are not assured. For first, this want of assurance is no prejudice to your free accesse to the Throne of grace: you may come freely to present your requests to God, though you are not assured of acceptance. As it is the saying of an Authour: Though God shewes thee not his face, yet he may lend thee his eare, when thou commest to him in prayer; God lends many