A88594:540
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, Take notice, that these six effects do not extend to children who die while they are children, but to men and women that are grown to years. A child that cannot act reason, as he is a child, cannot have any of these particulars wrought in him, at least in that way and manner men of years have. A child, as it is an infant, hath not conversion in that way a ⟨p. 211⟩man hath, though it hath somewhat equivalent to it; as somewhat like sanctification, and somewhat like that faith men of years have; but what that is, and how wrought, man cannot determine. In pressing of this therefore, I say, it doth not extend to children who die in their infancy, but only to men come to years of discretion, if they live and die without the having of these six effects, they may conclude, they cannot be elected.
First, Take notice, that these six effects doe not extend to children who die while they are children, but to men and women that are grown to yeers. A child that cannot act reason, as he is a child, cannot have any of these particulars wrought in him, at least in that way and manner men of yeeres have. A child, as it is an infant, hath not conversion in that way a ⟨p. 211⟩man hath, though it hath somewhat equivalent to it; as somewhat like sanctification, and somewhat like that faith men of yeeres have; but what that is, and how wrought, man cannot determine. In pressing of this therefore, I say, it doth not extend to children who die in their infancy, but onely to men come to yeeres of discretion, if they live and die without the having of these six effects, they may conclude, they cannot be elected.
Secondly, that the want of these six particulars for a time, is no Argument of a mans non-election: for before conversion (which is Gods first dealing with a sinner) an elect man may be as vile, and as bad as any wicked man alive. As the Apostle Paul tells us, Titus 3.3. In times past we were also disobedient, and served divers lusts, and lived in pleasure and excess, &c. So