Wednesday, May 31, 2006
From 'A Treatise of Effectual Calling and' by Christopher Love
From sermon 6.
First, because there are many gradual changes which do not amount to a saving change or alteration of the heart of man. There is change from a pagan to a Christian. Julian was changed, yet he was a man never called by Jesus Christ. There is a change from being a persecutor to being a counternacer of religion. So we read that Valerius Mexminus was changed who was the vilest persecutor of all men in his time. The hand of God lay so sore upon him for that sin that his very bowels totted within him, and the very worms crept out of him; and in horror of conscience he cried out to his nobles around him, persuading him by his example to take heed never to persecute the Christians more. Now both of these are changes, and yet they are but gradual changes, and leave men abudendantly short of those saving changes that God works in those who are effectually called.
There is a change from profaneness to profession, and yet this is a step below a saving change. There is a step from profession to sincerity, and to a real profession of Jesus Christ. Now those first three steps fall short of a saving change, and therefore every change of life does not argue a man to be effectually called, because there are many gragdual changes that do not amount to so high a pitch as to be savingly changed.
Second, there may be a great change in the life when there is no change in the nature or the heart. In Matthew 23:25, they may "wash the outside of the cup, when within it is full of pollution." The life may be changed, the external acts and course may be changed, when the heart my not be changed and the nature is the same.
p. 114-115
Love wrote in this sermon how not all changes are real. A person may change from persecuting christians and still not be saved. They may change because God punishes them for what they do and that is why they stop what they are doing.
A person may stop commenting outward sins and still not have a new heart.
First, because there are many gradual changes which do not amount to a saving change or alteration of the heart of man. There is change from a pagan to a Christian. Julian was changed, yet he was a man never called by Jesus Christ. There is a change from being a persecutor to being a counternacer of religion. So we read that Valerius Mexminus was changed who was the vilest persecutor of all men in his time. The hand of God lay so sore upon him for that sin that his very bowels totted within him, and the very worms crept out of him; and in horror of conscience he cried out to his nobles around him, persuading him by his example to take heed never to persecute the Christians more. Now both of these are changes, and yet they are but gradual changes, and leave men abudendantly short of those saving changes that God works in those who are effectually called.
There is a change from profaneness to profession, and yet this is a step below a saving change. There is a step from profession to sincerity, and to a real profession of Jesus Christ. Now those first three steps fall short of a saving change, and therefore every change of life does not argue a man to be effectually called, because there are many gragdual changes that do not amount to so high a pitch as to be savingly changed.
Second, there may be a great change in the life when there is no change in the nature or the heart. In Matthew 23:25, they may "wash the outside of the cup, when within it is full of pollution." The life may be changed, the external acts and course may be changed, when the heart my not be changed and the nature is the same.
p. 114-115
Love wrote in this sermon how not all changes are real. A person may change from persecuting christians and still not be saved. They may change because God punishes them for what they do and that is why they stop what they are doing.
A person may stop commenting outward sins and still not have a new heart.
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I've never read much from Christopher Love but I know someone who loves his writings. Thanks for this, Johnnie.
Can you recommend a book--the first one someone should read of Love's?
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Can you recommend a book--the first one someone should read of Love's?
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