A49258:504
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, 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 ⟨p. 164⟩Gods love▪ that he saith of himself, I think in my heart, there is not a merrier heart in the world, then mine is. And so another Martyr burning at the stake saith, I taste as much sweetness, and find as much ease now I am in the flames, as if I lay upon a bed of Roses. The fullness of his joy in the assurance of Gods love, made him willingly undergo any torment. Mr. Sanders was in prison, till he was in prison; Bainam said when he was in the fire, I feel no more then if I were in a bed of down. Whereas, thou that harbourest false persuasions, thy hopes will shrink when thou comest to suffer, like cloth not well woven, on a rainy day; thy delusions will never bear up thy spirit to so high a pitch as these are, This is thy misery, thou wilt never have that sweet peace and rejoicing in thy heart Believers have, who are assured upon Scripture grounds.
Secondly, whilst you live in this world, you are meere strangers to that inward and spiritual joy which every true Believer feeles 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 sorrowes 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 ⟨p. 164⟩Gods love▪ that he saith of himself, I think in my heart, there is not a merrier heart in the world, then mine is. And so another Martyr burning at the stake saith, I taste as much sweetness, and finde as much ease now I am in the flames, as if I lay upon a bed of Roses. The fulness of his joy in the assurance of Gods love, made him willingly undergoe any torment. Mr. Sanders was in prison, till he was in prison; Bainam said when he was in the fire, I feel no more then if I were in a bed of down. Whereas, thou that harbourest false perswasions, thy hopes will shrink when thou commest to suffer, like cloth not well woven, on a rainy day; thy delusions will never bear up thy spirit to so high a pitch as these are, This is thy misery, thou wilt never have that sweet peace and rejoycing in thy heart Believers have, who are assured upon Scripture grounds.