A49258:551
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.
Fourthly, That man that by living under the powerful Ministry of the Word, is more hard in heart, and worse in life; if a man grows thus, it is an argument, he is not within the purpose of Gods election. Matth. 13.14, 15. By hearing, you shall hear, but not understand; by seeing, you shall see, but not perceive; •his peoples heart is waxed gross, their ears dull in hearing, their eyes shut, lest at any time they should see with their eyes, hear with •heir ears, understand with their hearts, and be converted, and I •hould sa•e them. Here is the judgement God lays upon such •inne•s, that they shall have eyes, and not see, they shall be ignorant, their hearts shall •axe gross, they shall be uncapable •f taking any impression of t•e word upon them. And wha•'s •he end of all this? left they should be converted, and I should •ave •hem; implying, that if God lets you that live under the Mi•i••ry, to have dark eyes, and hard hearts, it is an argument God hath no intent to save you, and therefore his purpose ⟨p. 179⟩is to condemn you. So John 12.40. He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their hearts, lest they should see with their eyes, and understand with their hearts, and be converted. Here is laid down as an act of Gods, that God did harden their hearts, and God did blind their eyes, lest they should be converted; Implying, that if men do live and die, in this temper, that they have lived year after year under a powerful Ministry, and yet they grow more blind in judgement, and more profane in life, and more hard in heart, after 20, 30, 40 years hearing, then they were before; that the word doth but draw out their wickedness, and makes them more profane, and more to oppose godliness; the Lord have mercy upon such souls, for certainly if God leave you thus, it is an argument he never intends to save you; for the Lord doth thus with such, that they might not be saved. There is a passage