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

First, Because there are many gradual changes, which do not come up, or amount to a saving change or alteration of the heart of man. As there is a change from a Pagan to a Christian, so was Julian changed, yet a man never called by Jesus Christ. Then there is a change from a persecutor to be a countenancer of Religion, so we read Valerius Maximinus was changed, who was the vilest persecutor of all men in his time, and the hand of God lying so sore upon him for that sin, that his very bowels rotted within him, and the very worms crept out of them, and in horror of conscience he cried out to his Nobles about him, persuading them by his example, to take heed never to persecute the Christians more. Now both these were great changes, and yet they are but gradual changes, that leave men abundantly ⟨p. 92⟩short of those saving changes that God works in them that are effectually called. Thirdly, There is a change from profaneness to profession, and yet this is a step below a saving change. Fourthly there is a step from profession into sincerity, into a real possession of Jesus Christ. Now those three steps they fall short of a saving change, and therefore every change of life doth not argue a man to be effectually called, because there are many gradual changes that do not amount to so high a pitch as this, to be savingly changed.

First, Because there are many graduall changes, which do not come up, or amount to a saving change or alteration of the heart of man. As there is a change from a Pagan to a Christian, so was Julian chang'd, yet a man never called by Jesus Christ. Then there is a change from a persecuter to be a countenancer of Religion, so we read Valerius Maximinus was changed, who was the vilest persecuter of all men in his time, and the hand of God lying so sore upon him for that sin, that his very bowels rotted within him, and the very worms crept out of them, and in horror of conscience he cryed out to his Nobles about him, perswading them by his example, to take heed never to persecute the Christians more. Now both these were great changes, and yet they are but graduall changes, that leave men abundantly ⟨p. 92⟩short of those saving changes that God works in them that are effectually called. Thirdly, There is a change from prophanenesse to profession, and yet this is a step below a saving change. Fourthly there is a step from profession into sincerity, into a reall possession of Jesus Christ. Now those three steps they fall short of a saving change, and therefore every change of life doth not argue a man to be effectually called, because there are many graduall changes that do not amount to so high a pitch as this, to be savingly changed.