A88594:438
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, Avoid remissness in religious duties. If you slack in duties, you will slack in comforts; less duties, and less comforts go together. If a man doth let loose the tacklings of his ship, and let slack the sails, that ship cannot go with so swift a motion; specially if wind and tide be against it, the ship must needs go backward: Believers that are assured Christians, they are like a ship under sail; you go against wind and tide, against nature, and against corruption, against Temptation and the devil and all: now if you let slack your sails, and grow remiss in duties, you will ⟨p. 166⟩quickly slack in your comforts; whatever weakens your graces, and straitens your duties, will impair your assurances, and eclipse your comforts; and therefore take heed of remissness in a way of duties; oh do not less work, when you have most encouragement.
Thirdly, Avoid remisseness in religious duties. If you slack in duties, you will slack in comforts; lesse duties, and lesse comforts go together. If a man doth let loose the tacklings of his ship, and let slack the sailes, that ship cannot go with so swift a motion; specially if winde and tide be against it, the ship must needs go backward: Believers that are assured Christians, they are like a ship under saile; you go against winde and tide, against nature, and against corruption, against Temptation and the devil and all: now if you let slack your sailes, and grow remisse in duties, you will ⟨p. 166⟩quickly slack in your comforts; whatever weakens your graces, and straitens your duties, will impaire your assurances, and eclipse your comforts; and therefore take heed of remisseness in a way of duties; oh do not less work, when you have most encouragement.
Fourthly, Take heed of spiritual pride. If once you begin to admire your selves, you then lose your selves. If once you are proud of your graces, it is a provocation to make God take away your comforts, and to make you lose your graces; I mean, lose them, not in the very being, but in the comfort and exercise of them; pride it is the great murderer of a Christians comforts.