A88594:274
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.
2. If your hearing be a partial hearing: I mean thus; if you hear, and will hear but part of the word, or leave but some part of your sins by hearing, will pick and choose both whom you will hear, and what you will hear; in that case, your hearing with delight can be no evidence of your effectual calling. If it be a partial hearing, as first, that you will hear some part, and will not hear the other; to hear the promising part, and not the commanding part; to hear with delight the commanding part, and not hear the threatening part of the word: in this case, thus hearing, will be no evidence of your call. Mark 6.20. Herod, it is said of him, he heard John Baptist gladly, and did many things: There was his partial hearing: he heard him with joy in many things, but he would not do all. Now, if you ask, wherein was Herod's failing? Herod heard the word with gladness; yet this was no evidence of his effectual calling. Wherein did he fail, Why mark, compare this Scripture with Luke 3.18.19, 20 Herod, it is true, he heard John Baptist gladly, while he preached of ordinary matter; but when John came to reprove him of his sins, and told him he was an Adulterer, then he could not endure to hear John preach, ver. 18. Many things in his exhortation did John preach to the people, but ⟨p. 86⟩Herod the Tetrarch being reproved by John, for Herodias his brother Philips wife, and for all the evils Herod had done, he added yet this above all, to shut up John in prison. He would hear John no more then: Mark how the Scripture points out a wicked man; Herod heard John gladly, when he preached of comfortable and general matter; but when John came to reproving matter, and convincing matter, then he would hear him no more; but added this sin to the rest, to shut up John in prison. So that to be a partial hearer, gladly to hear some part of the word, but not all, can be no evidence of effectual calling. So those in Isaiah discovered this temper, Isa. 30.10. Prophesy to us smooth things, prophesy deceits. There were many men could delight to hear smooth and comfortable preaching, but they could not endure to hear a true denunciation of Gods judgments against them for their sins. They love to hear some part of Gods will, not all; the promising part, not the reproving part; this is no evidence of effectual calling.