A88594:255
A treatise of effectual calling and election. In XVI. sermons, on 2 Pet. 1.10…
A treatise of effectual calling and election. In XVI. sermons, on 2 Pet. 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 Lawrence Jury, London.
London: printed for John Rothwell, 1653
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.
SERMON VI.
2 Pet. 1.10. Wherefore the rather, Brethren, give all diligence to make your Calling and Election sure.
The Doctrine I am yet upon, is this. That Christians ought to put forth a great deal of diligence, to make this sure to their souls, that they are effectually called by Jesus Christ. In the prosecution of which, I have resolved one case of conscience, and am yet upon the second case; namely, what suggestions the Devil doth use to keep men off from embracing the call of Jesus Christ: I have laid down and answered three already.
THe Doctrine I am yet upon, is this. That Christians ought to put forth a great deal of diligence, to make this sure to their souls, that they are effectually called by Jesus Christ. In the prosecution of which, I have resolved one case of conscience, and am yet upon the second case; namely, what suggestions the Devil doth use to keep men off from imbracing the call of Jesus Christ: I have laid down and answered three already.
4. Now there is one suggestion more; when the Devil sees neither of these will take place, then he comes in with a fourth, to dissuade men from embracing the call of Christ; and that is this, Why, saith the Devil, if you will entertain the call of Christ, you will abridge your selves of all the joy and comfort of your lives; you will never have merry days while you live upon earth. You see men, that pretend to be converted, and do hear Sermons, what lumpish and melancholy men they are, not so jocund and jolly as others are, that walk not so precisely; if you follow Christ, and his Gospel, this will cashier all your merry days, and this will put you into a sad temper; all your jovial days are gone. Therefore to take off this aspersion, that the ways of Christ are sad and melancholy ways; which hath been an aspersion that from age to age, & generation to generation, hath been