A49258:503
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.
First, You that nourish presumptuous persuasions of your effectual calling, when you are not, take this conclusion to dread your hearts, That it is likely you shall never be effectually called by Jesus Christ. There is no man so unlikely to be truly called by Christ, as that man that thinks he is called, when he is not. Matth. 9. I came not to call the Righteous, but sinners to repentance. Righteous men i.e. that thought they were righteous, and in their own eye thought they had grace, and were as good as the best, I came not, saith Christ, to call them, but sinners, i.e. sinners that see their sin, and see their need of a Saviour, and are sensible of their lost and undone condition without Christ, Christ came to save them, and to call them to repentance: Of all men in the world, you are most unlikely to be called that nourish ungrounded persuasions of your effectual calling.
First, You that nourish presumptuous perswasions of your effectual calling, when you are not, take this conclusion to dread your hearts, That it is likely you shall never be effectually called by Jesus Christ. There is no man so unlikely to be truly called by Christ, as that man that thinks he is called, when he is not. Matth. 9. I came not to call the Righteous, but sinners to repentance. Righteous men i.e. that thought they were righteous, and in their own eye thought they had grace, and were as good as the best, I came not, saith Christ, to call them, but sinners, i.e. sinners that see their sin, and see their need of a Saviour, and are sensible of their lost and undone condition without Christ, Christ came to save them, and to call them to repentance: Of all men in the world, you are most unlikely to be called that nourish ungrounded perswasions of your effectual calling.
Secondly, whilst you live in this world, you are mere strangers to that inward and spiritual joy which every true Believer feels and findeth by Jesus Christ. You do not intermeddle with those inward solaces, and sweet enjoyments of heart, which every sincere Believer hath in Jesus Christ. A man that hath assurance upon good ground, he is so filled with joy, that it will bear him up against all the sufferings and sorrows he may meet with here in the world. He that hath assurance, no suffering can daunt him. As Adolphus Clarebachius, when he was burning at the stake, he was so filled with the assurance of