A49258:670
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.
Fifthly, That Gods election is so free, that in choosing and electing men to life and salvation, he doth not do it for the sake of Jesus Christ himself. Understand this well, that therein you might both give Christ his due, and God the father his due: for mistake me not. God doth save none but by Christ, but God did elect men without reference to Jesus Christ as the motive of election, merely according to the purpose of his own will. All modern and latter Divines lay down this for a truth, that it was the mere pleasure, and good will of God to man, that was the motive of Gods electing us, and not Christ. Christ could not be the cause, because he was the effect. Now what is the effect, cannot be the cause. Gods love in electing mankind, did produce Jesus Christ to be the means of our salvation, and of bringing about Gods election, therefore he being the effect of election cannot be the cause. The cause of election was eternal, but the merits of Christ were not so. Again, Christ was elected himself. 1 Pet. 1.20. He was preordained of God before the world was. Now he that was elected himself, could not be the cause of our election. Besides the elect are said to be given to Christ to be saved, John 17.2. therefore he was not the cause of our election. It is true, the Scripture tells us, Eph. 1.4 We are elected in Christ, i. we are elected in Christ as a common person. God first chose Christ, and then believers in Christ, as members of his body. ⟨p. 216⟩But God elects no man for Christs sake, but man is chosen merely of Gods bounty, without reference to Jesus Christ. And here Divines say, Gods love in electing man to life was as free, as if Christ had never died; and it was so free, that man was not beholding to Christ for his election; and yet Christs sufferings were so full, as if men were not bound to God for their election. Thus they are pleased to express it. And the reason why the Scripture speaks thus, that we are only chosen in Christ, not for Christ, is to give God the Father his due in electing men to life: that God did it merely of his own grace, and therein Gods love and favour is apparent to all the world, that he did elect man without Christ, as the motive of his election: and yet Jesus Christ being come into the world, he carries on our salvation, and he is the cause of it; though he was not the cause of Gods first thoughts, in electing man to life.