A49258:519
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.
Another place they urge is 1 Cor. 10.12. Wherefore let him that thinks he stands, take heed lest he fall. Now, say they, the Scripture tells us, that every man, though never so firm, as he thinks, about his election; yet he must take heed, he may fall from grace, and be damned for all this. Now by way of answer to this, I would lay down two things.
First, The Apostle doth not speak of men that have a grounded assurance of their election; but to men that lie in carnal security, and have deluded persuasions of their good estate, and this appears by the Text; for he saith, let him that thinks he stands. He doth not say, let him that stands; for he cannot fall, but he that thinks he stands. Those men that nourish presumptuous and ungrounded persuasions, that they are in a good estate, and in a happy condition, let them take heed; lest they fall.
First, The Apostle doth not speak of men that have a grounded assurance of their election; but to men that lie in carnal security, and have deluded perswasions of their good estate, and this appeares by the Text; for he saith, let him that thinks he stands. He doth not say, let him that stands; for he cannot fall, but he that thinks he stands. Those men that nourish presumptuous and ungrounded perswasions, that they are in a good estate, and in a happy condition, let them take heed; lest they fall.
Secondly, the falling here is not meant a falling away from grace, or a falling away finally after election, for that is impossible; but it is only meant of a falling into sin: and so the meaning is this, Let him that thinks he stands, i. e. that thinks he is strong in grace, and stands upon his own legs, let that man take heed lest he fall into sin. Now a man may take heed of falling into sin, yet no way question his assurance. And if you ask how I make it appear that this is the intendment and scope of the place; I answer, by the Context. Read the foregoing verse, Let us not tempt Christ, as they