A88594:325
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.
First, That it is true, God doth proceed after this manner with some, yet God is not tied and confined to one and the same way of working with all. What if he come to you in a calm, when he comes to others in a Tempest, if God come to you in a more peaceable and quiet way? What if God do not pierce your heart, as he did those 3000. in the Acts, if he kindly open thy heart like Lidia's without noise? God is not to be tied to one and the same way in converting all. As 'tis said, John 3.8. The wind bloweth where it listeth, so how it listeth also.
First, That it is true, God doth proceed after this manner with some, yet God is not tied and confined to one and the same way of working with all. What if he come to you in a calm, when he comes to others in a Tempest, if God come to you in a more peaceable and quiet way? What if God do not pierce your heart, as he did those 3000. in the Acts, if he kindely open thy heart like Lidia's without noise? God is not to be tied to one and the same way in converting all. As 'tis said, John 3.8. The winde bloweth where it listeth, so how it listeth also.
Secondly, You have no cause to doubt for this, because it's Gods usual manner to proceed after this way, only with such men who have been loose in their lives, who have been obstinate in their wills, who have been very scandalous in conversation before their conversion and call. But it is not Gods usual way to work thus upon Christians, who have been religiously brought up from their youth; it is not Gods way to dowse them into such a pit of horror, and plunge them into such a depth of fears, that have been of a fair and ingenuous and moral life before their call. As you know it is with Carpenters, they give more blows to knotty Timber, then they will do to smooth and tender wood; thus doth God, when he meets with a knotty sinner, a wretched stout-hearted sinner, God must give him many blows by humiliation, before he will be humbled, before he can bring him to be a serviceable piece in Gods building;