A88594:667
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.
Fourthly, God in electing a certain number to life, doth it without foresight of any good works which he saw would be in them. Indeed the Papists and Arminians join their strength, to maintain this; God, say they, foresaw men would believe in Christ, and would be holy in their lives, and therefore God did choose them to life. This you may remember I spent some time in overthrowing formerly, and therefore pass it over now. viz. That God did not choose men to life, with reference to any good works he foresaw in them. This indeed is an undoubted truth; All men whom God did elect to life, he foresaw they would have good works in them; but Gods foreseeing of this, was not the cause for which God did elect them. No, the motive was his own will, according to the pleasure of his own grace, Rom. 9.11. and Rom. 11.5. A remnant are saved according to the election of grace, for if it were of works, grace is no more grace. Were election upon foresight of good works, then it would follow, that infants dying in infancy were not within the compass of Gods election, because an infant so dying, could not perform any good works; and so their case would be most miserable. Besides, we are not justified by actual works, therefore not elected upon works foreseen. Rom. 3.24. for there is the like reason of these two.
Fourthly, God in electing a certain number to life, doth it without foresight of any good works which he saw would be in them. Indeed the Papists and Arminians joyn their strength, to maintaine this; God, say they, foresaw men would believe in Christ, and would be holy in their lives, and therefore God did chuse them to life. This you may remember I spent some time in overthrowing formerly, and therefore pass it over now. viz. That God did not chuse men to life, with reference to any good works he foresaw in them. This indeed is an undoubted truth; All men whom God did elect to life, he foresaw they would have good works in them; but Gods foreseeing of this, was not the cause for which God did elect them. No, the motive was his own will, according to the pleasure of his own grace, Rom. 9.11. and Rom. 11.5. A remnant are saved according to the election of grace, for if it were of works, grace is no more grace. Were election upon foresight of good workes, then it would follow, that infants dying in infancy were not within the compasse of Gods election, because an infant so dying, could not performe any good works; and so their case would be most miserable. Besides, we are not justified by actuall workes, therefore not elected upon works foreseen.