A88594:654
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, that a man having a good life, free from scandalous ⟨p. 251⟩sins, if he have not a good heart, that is no argument of a man that is within the compass of Gods election, Rom. 2.28, 29. He is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; nor is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh, but he is a Jew, which is one inwardly, and circumcision is of the heart, whose praise is not of men, but of God. Intimating, that he is not a Christian; he is not an elect Jew, that was one outwardly; that is, that was conformable to the rites and customs of the Jews; but he was one that was one inwardly, that had his sins mortified, his nature changed, and his heart cleansed, he was an elect Jew. So that to have a holy life, if a man have not an holy heart, is no sign that a man is within the compass of Gods election.
Thirdly, that a man having a good life, free from scandalous ⟨p. 251⟩sinnes, if he have not a good heart, that is no argument of a man that is within the compasse of Gods election, Rom. 2.28, 29. He is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; nor is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh, but he is a Jew, which is one inwardly, and circumcision is of the heart, whose praise is not of men, but of God. Intimating, that he is not a Christian; he is not an elect Jew, that was one outwardly; that is, that was conformable to the rites and customes of the Jewes; but he was one that was one inwardly, that had his sinnes mortified, his nature changed, and his heart cleansed, he was an elect Jew. So that to have a holy life, if a man have not an holy heart, is no sign that a man is within the compasse of Gods election.
Fourthly, God in electing men to life, doth pass by moral and civill honest men, that trust and depend upon their own righteousness and strict living, rather then any sort of men in the World.