A88594:98
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.
It is the Observation of a Rabbi, That the Snail above all other creatures, was by God pronounced unclean, because of its slow and easy pace: God looks upon thee as an unclean man, and an unclean woman, that hast a sluggish and a slow spirit in matters of Christianity. There are many men that like no life like an idle life; they are never weary so much, as they are weary of doing good, and weary of duties; an hour at a Sermon, a day at a Fast, a ⟨p. 21⟩little time at prayer quite tires them; whereas ways of vanity, and ways of pleasure, they are never weary of. It was the speech of that Epicure Marcus Lepidus, 1who lying under a shady tree, upon a Sun-shine day, stretching himself, cries out, O would to God this were to take pains to live at ease. There are many men as sottish as he: they could wish, I would to God to sit in a Tavern were the way to go to heaven; I would to God to walk in the fields, to sit at the door on the Sabbath day, that this were the way to Heaven; many men would be saved more easily! Why, how should this condemn that great sluggishness and idleness of mens spirits, that they do so little in the matters of soul concernment?
It is the Observation of a Rabbi, That the Snail above all other creatures, was by God pronounced unclean, because of its slow and easie pace: God looks upon thee as an unclean man, and an unclean woman, that hast a sluggish and a slow spirit in matters of Christianity. There are many men that like no life like an idle life; they are never wearie so much, as they are wearie of doing good, and wearie of duties; an hour at a Sermon, a day at a Fast, a ⟨p. 21⟩little time at prayer quite tires them; whereas ways of vanitie, and wayes of pleasure, they are never weary of. It was the speech of that Epicure Marcus Lepidus, 1who lying under a shady tree, upon a Sun-shine day, stretching himself, cryes out, O would to God this were to take pains to live at ease. There are many men as sottish as he: they could wish, I would to God to sit in a Tavern were the way to go to heaven; I would to God to walk in the fields, to sit at the door on the Sabbath day, that this were the way to Heaven; many men would be saved more easily! Why, how should this condemn that great sluggishness and idleness of mens spirits, that they do so little in the matters of soul concernment?