A88594:547
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.
Secondly, Men that do make the mercies and goodness of God as arguments to embolden them the more in sin, such men are not likely to be the persons whom God hath elected to life and glory. In the Epistle of Jude, v. 4. It is spoken there of men, that turned the grace of God into wantonness. And what saith the Apostle of them, they are men that are ordained of old to condemnation. The Scripture there makes it the badge of a man ordained of old to condemnation, when he shall persist in this sinful temper, to turn Gods grace into lasciviousness; that is, to take arguments from the grace, and mercy and goodness of God, to walk in ways of sin. And therefore look to it, and with your hearts bewail it, all you that are apt to abuse doctrines of grace; and because God is good, you will be evil; because God is merciful, therefore you will be sinful; if you die in this temper, the Scripture declares, that you are the men ordained of old to condemnation.
Secondly, Men that doe make the mercies and goodnesse of God as arguments to embolden them the more in sinne, such men are not likely to be the persons whom God hath elected to life and glory. In the Epistle of Jude, v. 4. It is spoken there of men, that turned the grace of God into wantonnesse. And what saith the Apostle of them, they are men that are ordained of old to condemnation. The Scripture there makes it the badge of a man ordained of old to condemnation, when he shal persist in this sinfull temper, to turn Gods grace into lasciviousnesse; that is, to take arguments from the grace, and mercy and goodnesse of God, to walk in waies of sinne. And therefore look to it, and with your hearts bewaile it, all you that are apt to abuse doctrines of grace; and because God is good, you will be evil; because God is mercifull, therefore you will be sinful; if you die in this temper, the Scripture declares, that you are the men ordained of old to condemnation.
Thirdly, a man that doth walk in a course of sin, wilfully, with malice, and knowingly against conscience, and obstinately without reluctancy; and persist in this, and live and die thus, that man is not within the compass of Gods election. There is a phrase,