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

First, That man that hath sound and true assurance of his effectual calling, he is very careful to take heed of sin, that so he might not eclipse his comforts, or lose his assurance. He is careful (I say) to free his heart from sin as much as may be, as considering, that though he cannot sin away his soul, he may sin away his comforts; though he cannot sin away his salvation, he may sin away his consolation. A man that hath this assurance, he knows the worth of assurance, and he knows how soon it is lost, and how hardly it is gained; and that makes him very tender of sin, 2 Cor. 7.1. Having these Promises, let us cleanse our selves. When a godly man knows that God is his God, (For that's the Promise spoken of in the verse before) knowing that he belongs to God, and the Promises belong to him; he knowing this, it makes him cleanse himself from all filthiness, both of flesh and spirit; that he keep no sin in the spirit, nor no sin in the body. A man that hath assurance, it makes him very tender of every sin: But now, a man that hath ⟨p. 142⟩presumptuous persuasions of his own goodness, his persuasions will make him more bold, and more venturous to run into sin, he will make no bones o• sin: and he cares not for falling into one sin to day, and another sin to morrow, and to commit wickedness day after day; he is bold and venturous upon every sin. Jer. 3.4.5. Thou hast cried to me, My Father, my Father, thou art the guide of my youth; with thou reserve anger for ever, and shall there be no end of thy indignation? Yet what saith God? Yet thou didst evil as much as thou couldst. As if he should say, You cry, My Father; you persuade your selves God is your Father, and yet you will speak and do evil as much as you can: Here God brands them for a presumptuous people. To persuade your selves that God is your Father, and yet to do wickedness as much as you can, and to be drunk as often as you can, and swear as oft as you can; alas you deceive your own hearts in this: for God cannot be your Father in this sense. And Beloved, I beseech you in my going over these heads, that you would lay them to your own hearts, and see if you may be distinguished from those presumptuous persuasions, that go over the world.

First, That man that hath sound and true assurance of his effectual calling, he is very careful to take heed of sinne, that so he might not eclipse his comforts, or lose his assurance. He is careful (I say) to free his heart from sin as much as may be, as considering, that though he cannot sinne away his soule, he may sinne away his comforts; though he cannot sinne away his salvation, he may sinne away his consolation. A man that hath this assurance, he knowes the worth of assurance, and he knowes how soon it is lost, and how hardly it is gained; and that makes him very tender of sin,