A88594:295
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.
Thirdly, There may be a great change in a mans life, proceeding, not from a change in their nature but from the times wherein they live: the times are changed, therefore they are changed; the times do not favour superstition, therefore they will not show their superstitious hearts, the times countenance not profaneness, therefore they will not be profane. Beloved, a change in a mans life may flow many times from a change of the times wherein they live, and yet this change, no Argument of a heart change, or of effectual calling by Jesus Christ.
Thirdly, There may be a great change in a mans life, proceeding, not from a change in their nature but from the times wherein they live: the times are changed, therefore they are changed; the times do not favour superstition, therefore they will not shew their superstitious hearts, the times countenance not profaneness, therefore they will not be profane. Beloved, a change in a mans life may flow many times from a change of the times wherein they live, and yet this change, no Argument of a heart change, or of effectual calling by Jesus Christ.
Fourthly, A change in your life, may proceed from a change in your sin not from a change in your heart: as thus, A man may be a Drunkard, may be an Adulterer, may be a profane liver in times past, and may change these sins for other sins. He may change his Drunkenness into Covetousness, and be a covetous Worldling. He may change his Adultery for Idolatry, and be a superstitious man. He may change Profaneness into Hypocrisy, and be an Hypocritical man. He may change his loose practice into a loose judgment, and be an erroneous man. Now this is no change of the heart, but only a change of the sin; you have not the ⟨p. 93⟩same sins you had, but you have other sins in place of them; and men may thus have a change in their life, flowing from a change in their sin, yet no argument of effectual calling. Jer. 2.36. Why gaddest thou so much to change thy way? The people of Israel, they would be always changing, now they would be for God, anon for Baal; now for Gods true Worship, anon for false Worship; they would be ever changing their sin, but never leaving it; only change their old sins for other sort of sins. And so there are many men now adays changed, they are turned from Malignity, and are come to be Professors; it may be they have not so gross sins now, as in times past; in times past they would oppose Religion, and now they profess it; though they have left their opposition, they have some sin more eminent then that. Many men have been loose in practice, they have changed that, to be loose in judgment; this is no change of heart all this while: so that, take this for a truth, there may be a change in the life, when the heart remains unchanged still.