A treatise of effectual calling and election. In XVI. sermons, on 2 Pet. 1.10…

Eighthly, that a man may be an elect child of God, and yet not express the fruit of his election in many years here in the world, and this is a very comfortable point. An instance you have of this in Paul. It is observable of Paul, the Scripture tells us he was a chosen vessel, Acts 9.15. and yet Paul lived many years, before the fruit of his election appeared in him. Some Historians say, Paul lived 37. the least say 30 years, before the fruit of election appeared in him, for he was converted the very year after Christs death; and all the while before, he did express fruit that was seemingly repugnant to an elect estate, as if a man could not be an elect vessel, that was so vile as he: he was a blaspheme, a persecutor, injurious to the Church, haled men to prison, mad with rage against the professors of Jesus Christ. Nay, he was a man that had a hand in putting Steven the first Martyr to death. So long he lived in a course of iniquity, for 30. years together, and yet this man was an elect vessel then. So the Thief upon the Cross, an elect child of God, yet did not express the fruit of his election in repentance and conversion, until the last hour of his life. So that I say a man may be an elect child of God, and yet not express the fruit of his election in his life for many years.

Eighthly, that a man may be an elect child of God, and yet not expresse the fruit of his election in many yeeres here in the world, and this is a very comfortable point. An instance you have of this in Paul. It is observable of Paul, the Scripture tels us he was a chosen vessell, Acts 9.15. and yet Paul lived many yeeres, before the fruit of his election appeared in him. Some Historians say, Paul lived 37. the least say 30 yeers, before the fruit of election appeared in him, for he was converted the very yeere after Christs death; and all the while before, he did expresse fruit that was seemingly repugnant to an elect estate, as if a man could not be an elect vessell, that was so vile as he: he was a blaspheme, a persecuter, injurious to the Church, haled men to prison, mad with rage against the professors of Jesus Christ. Nay, he was a man that had a hand in putting Steven the first Martyr to death. So long he lived in a course of iniquity, for 30. yeeres together, and yet this man was an elect vessell then. So the Thiefe upon the Crosse, an elect child of God, yet did not expresse the fruit of his election in repentance and conversion, untill the last houre of his life. So that I say a man may be an elect childe of God, and yet not expresse the fruit of his election in his life for many yeeres.