A49258:661
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.
Thirdly, A third delusion whereby men are deceived by the Devil, to think they are elected, when they are not, is this. If they cannot plead their education, and moral manner of living, or if they cannot plead their vocation, their last plea is, the mercy of God, they hope God is a merciful God, and God made them not all to damn them; they are Gods creatures, made by him, and God that made them, will save them; and hereupon they fasten their hopes, that they are in the number of Gods elect ones. This is a strong delusion, especially amongst ignorant people. And to this I answer in two particulars.
First, when as men say, God is a merciful God, therefore they hope they are elected, I answer: It is true, God is a merciful God, yet God is as just as merciful; he is mercifully just, and justly merciful; his mercy cannot intench upon his Justice, nor sh•ll his Justice intrench upon his mercy; one Attribute shall not clash with another; he is no more merciful then he is just, nor is he more just then he is merciful.
Secondly, though God be a merciful God, yet Gods saving mercy is not so large as to extend to all creatures that live, that he hath made. You read Isay 27.11. This is a people of no understanding, therefore he that made them will not have mercy upon them, and be that formed them will show them no favour. Here you see the Prophet tells them, that that God that made them, will damn them, and that God that formed them, that God will show them no favour. So that Gods mercy extends not so far, as to reach to all the works of his hands; for if so, the devils might claim salvation as well as man; for God made them when they were glorious Angels, as well as man: and therefore, if all the works of Gods hands should plead for salvation, they might as well come within the compass of Gods election as wicked men do.