A treatise of effectual calling and election In XVI. sermons, on 2 Peter 1.10.…

Secondly, if you falling into gross and scandalous sins, have not these four sinful ingredients, your falling into sin after calling, may be consistent with election. First, if you fall not into sin voluntarily. Secondly, if you fall not into the same sin frequently. Thirdly, if you fall not into sin with complacency. And fourthly, if you lie not under your fall impenitently. If these ingredients be mixed with your sinning after your call, they are inconsistent with election. First, if you fall into sin voluntarily, that you rush into sin, as a horse into the battle. Secondly, if you fall into the same sin frequently, then it is hazardous and dangerous. It is true Peter denied Christ, but it was but in one fit of a temptation. D•vid fell into Adultery, but it was never but once; Lot was guilty of drunkenness, but only in one fit: For the Servants of God, though they fall, yet they fall not frequently into the same sin, if gross and scandalous. Thirdly, if you fall into sin with complacency, that you take pleasure in the evils you fall into; if you do as Job saith, wallow sin under your tongue, counting it sweet and delightsome to you. And lastly, if all this be joined with impenitency, that you have not a heart to repent of the evils you fall into, the Lord have mercy upon you; for certainly, if you fall into sin with these ingredients, you are not within the compass of Gods mercy to save. But now, though you do fall into sin, if it be not voluntary, but through the force of temptation: if it be not with complacency, but a dislike of the sins you fall into; and as soon as you do fall, and see your sins you repent and rise again, though you do fall in this way, it will be no prejudice to your election.

Secondly, if you falling into grosse and scandalous sins, have not these four sinful ingredients, your falling into sin after calling, may be consistent with election. First, if you fall not into sin voluntarily. Secondly, if you fall not into the same sin frequently. Thirdly, if you fall not into sin with complacency. And fourthly, if you lie not under your fall impenitently. If these ingredients be mixed with your sinning after your call, they are inconsistent with election. First, if you fall into sin voluntarily, that you rush into sin, as a horse into the battel. Secondly, if you fall into the same sin frequently, then it is hazardous and dangerous. It is true Peter denied Christ, but it was but in one fit of a temptation. D•vid fell into Adultery, but it was never but once; Lot was guilty of drunkennesse, but onely in one fit: For the Servants of God, though they fall, yet they fall not frequently into the same sin, if grosse and scandalous. Thirdly, if you fall into sin with complacency, that you take pleasure in the evils you fall into; if you do as Job saith, wallow sin under your tongue, counting it sweet and delightsome to you. And lastly, if all this be joyned with impenitency, that you have not a heart to repent of the evils you fall into, the Lord have mercy upon you; for certainly, if you fall into sin with these ingredients, you are not within the compasse of Gods mercy to save. But now, though you do fall into sin, if it be not voluntary, but through the force of temptation: if it be not with complacency, but a dislike of the sins you fall into; and as soon as you do fall, and see your sins you repent and rise again, though you doe fall in this way, it will be no prejudice to your election.