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

And here further, if you ask me, With whom doth God ⟨p. 32⟩most of all take this course, to put them into such spiritual amazement; to put them into horror and terror about their everlasting estate? I Answer, first, Those that have lived in a course of profaneness before Conversion; let them look to it: if thou hast been a knotty and stout-hearted sinner against God, God must give thee many a blow before he can hammer thee to his own will. You that have been guilty of Drunkenness, and guilty of Adultery, or guilty of Sabbath-breaking in a gross and licentious way, that have made this world a stage to act wickedness upon, look to it; boast not of your Calling: if God hath not brought you in this way, you have ground to suspect, you are not yet called. They that before Conversion were loose in their lives, if they find not this spiritual amazement, it is not likely they are called. And therefore I verily suspect your Call, that can jump out of a course of Profaneness, into a course of Profession; that can jump from a course of Malignity to delight to hear Sermons, and love Ministers. You that have been opposers of godliness, if you do not show an eminent work in your Conversion, I greatly suspect, whether you are converted or no: because it is Gods usual Method, if men have been men of gross lives before calling, to bring them to great astonishment when they are called.

And here further, if you ask me, With whom doth God ⟨p. 32⟩most of all take this course, to put them into such spirituall amazement; to put them into horror and terror about their everlasting estate? I Answer, first, Those that have liv'd in a course of profaneness before Conversion; let them look to it: if thou hast been a knottie and stout-hearted sinner against God, God must give thee many a blow before he can hammer thee to his own will. You that have been guiltie of Drunkenness, and guiltie of Adultery, or guiltie of Sabbath-breaking in a gross and licencious way, that have made this world a stage to act wickednesse upon, look to it; boast not of your Calling: if God hath not brought you in this way, you have ground to suspect, you are not yet call'd. They that before Conversion were loose in their lives, if they find not this spirituall amazement, it is not likely they are call'd. And therefore I verily suspect your Call, that can jump out of a course of Profanenesse, into a course of Profession; that can jump from a course of Malignitie to delight to hear Sermons, and love Ministers. You that have been opposers of godliness, if you do not shew an eminent work in your Conversion, I greatly suspect, whether you are converted or no: because it is Gods usuall Method, if men have been men of gross lives before calling, to bring them to great astonishment when they are called.