A49258:542
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, Take notice, that these six defects do not extend to children who die while they are children, but to men and women that are grown in years. A child that cannot act reason, as he is a child, cannot have any of these particulars wrought in him, at least in that way and manner men of years have. A child, as it is an infant, hath not conversion in that way a man hath, though it hath somewhat equivalent to it; as somewhat like sanctification, and somewhat like that faith men of years have; but what that is, and how wrought, man cannot determine. In pressing of this therefore, I say, it doth not extend to children who die in their infancy, but only to men come to years of discretion, if they live and die without having these six effects, they may conclude, they cannot be elected.
First, Take notice, that these six defects do not extend to children who die while they are children, but to men and women that are grown in years. A childe that cannot act reason, as he is a childe, cannot have any of these particulars wrough in him, at least in that way and manner men of years have. A childe, as it is an infant, hath not conversion in that way a man hath, though it hath somewhat equivalent to it; as somewhat like sanctification, and somewhat like that faith men of years have; but what that is, and how wrought, man cannot determine. In pressing of this therefore, I say, it doth not extend to children who die in their infancy, but onely to men come to years of discretion, if they live and die without having these six effects, they may conclude, they cannot be elected.
Secondly, that the want of these six particulars for a time, is no Argument of a mans non-election; for before conversion (which is Gods first dealing with a sinner) an elect man may be as vile, and as bad as any wicked man alive. As the Apostle Paul tells us, Titus 3.3. In times past we were also disobedient, and served divers lusts, and lived in pleasure and excess, &c. So 1 Tim. 1.12. So that the want of this for a time, is no argument of a mans non-election, for then it would follow, a man unconverted is no elect man, which would cross the whole tenor of Scripture: But a man living and dying without these, doth not belong to the election of grace.