Exposition of 2 Thessalonians, Exposition · Chapter 2 · Verse 14
VERS. 14.
Whereunto he called you by our Goſpel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt.
THE ſecond ground of comfort is their vocation; a conſequent and fruit of election, yea euidence of it when its efficacious; amplified firſt by the meane, or inſtrument, our Goſpel. Secondly, the iſſue and laſt terme, obtaining glory.
foreign, to the which thing, whither to ſaluation, or ſanctification and faith, is no matter of curious inquirie; refer it you may to the whole terme of election, to ſanctification, faith: ſo to the ſtate of ſaluation. 1*1 Ioh. 3.3. Inchoate fruition of it. 2 Title and xRom. 8.24. Rom. 5.2.certaine hope of conſummate beatitude, for ſo it followes, to obtaine the glory of our Lord Ieſus Christ.
Intended it is to fill vp their comfort in aſſurance of election, and perhaps, anticipates what ignorance, or infirmitie might obiect: That the elect are ſecured from finall ſeducement wee eaſily belieue; but are wee elected? Reſp. Doubt not, for God hath called you, and thereby giuen euidence that he hath choſe you to Saluation.
Its a certaine trueth, efficacious calling, is vndoubtful euidence of election. See Rom. 8.30. 2 Tim. 1.8, 9. 2 Pet. 1.10. Thoſe whom hee predeſtinated, hee called, all and onelyonly; with that calling, which Saint Auguſtin out of Paul calles, the calling ſecundum propoſitum, perhaps intimating, that the reſt are outwardly called, obiter onelyonly, for the elect ſake, with whom they liue intermingled: hence in calling, he is ſaid to ſaue vsus; to ſet vsus after a ſort in poſſeſſion of ſaluation, vnderſtand it, when he calles vsus vocatione ſancta, that is, as I interpret, ſanctifican…e, making vsus holy: therefore Peter bids make calling and election ſure, firſt calling, from it thou maiſt eaſily aſcend to aſſurance of election.
Calling implies two things; 1. Inuitement to partake the grace of God offered in the Goſpel, formes of it yee hauehave eueryevery where in Scripture.yIſai 55.1. Hoe, eueryevery one that thirſteth, come and buy without money: zPro. 1.22.23.Oh ye fooliſh, how long will you louelove fooliſhneſſe? Oh turne you at my correction, I will powre out my ſoule vntounto you, this by the miniſterie of man. And who doubts but in many caſtawayes, there is a ſecret according perſwaſion of Gods ſpirit, to embrace grace offered: IaApoc. 3.19 20. ſtand at the doore and knocke,bIſai 30 21. here is the way, walke in it. Farthered alſo many times by firſt benefits. Secondly, corrections, outward, inward, but all in vaine to them in whom the ſeed of election is not: That made our Sauiour ſay, many are called, few choſen; inuited hee meanes, but not preuailed withall, ſo, as to bee brought out of the power of darkeneſſe.
2 Preualence, and efficacious perſwaſion of the heart, which in ſome degrees yee may obſerue to hauehave place in caſtawayes. 1 TheycHeb. 6.4. are illightened, brought to knowledge. 2 Tod1 Tim. 1.19. generall faith. 3 To aeHeb. 6.5. taſt of the good word of God, whence iſſuesfMat 13.20. receiuing it with ioy. 4 Feeling powers of the world to come. So that 5 there is in them velleitus, gNum. 23 10.a willingneſſe, ſomewhat faine to bee ſaued. 6 Outwardh2 Pet. 2.18.20. reformation for the time. 7 Seeking and ſtriuing to enter, yet without ſucceſſe. Luke 13.24.
What then is that worke of calling, that ſeales to vsus our election? Reſp. When the heart is ſo preuailed withall, that its made what its inuited to be,iRom. 4.17. enabled to do what its exhorted to do. Pſ. 27.8. My heart anſwered, thy face Lord wil I ſeek: kRom. 6.17.ye hauehave obeyed from the heart, that forme of doctrine into the which you were deliuered. The phraſe ſeemes purpoſely choſen, to expreſſe the efficacie of diuine doctrine, in the hearts of his children; as if they were caſt into it, as into a mould, and came forth, bearing the ſtampe and figure of it: See 2 Cor. 3.18.
Ʋſe Say not now in thy heart, who ſhall aſcend into heauen, to ſearch thoſe court roles, whither thy name bee written in the Booke of life: the word is neere thee, euen in thy heart. That, if thou hauehave ſelt it, ſuch as Paul deſcribes it, Spirit and Life, enabling to be, and doe what it preſcribes, leauing impreſſions of holineſſe, mercy, louelove, and ſuch like heauenly properties as it ſelfe breathes, thou maiſt reſt aſſured of thy Calling and Election. Bleſſed is that ſoule, that diſcernes impreſſions of the Word and Spirit of God in it ſelfe: Its ſealed to the day of Redemption, Epheſ. 4.30.
Inſtrument of vocation; our Goſpell: vnderſtand not an Euangelicall ſtorie written by Paul and his Aſſociates, as by Matthew and the reſt; But their preaching of the Goſpell: their publiſhing the glad tidings of remiſſion of ſinnes, reconciliation with God, ſaluation purchaſed by Chriſt to all beleeuers. The Goſpell is, 1 Gods, as the Author and ſender of it. 2 Christs, as the matter; and next reuealer of it out of the boſome of his Father: He is the Angell of the Couenant. 3 Pauls, as l1 Cor. 4.1.a diſpenſer, amongſt others, of the mysteries it containes. Our Goſpell; that is tropically, our preaching of the Goſpell.
That the inſtrument and meane of their, of our vocation; two things commended to our notice: 1 the matter or quality of the doctrine whereby our effectuall calling is wrought; its Goſpell. 2 The Act conuerſant about it, or the manner of propounding it, when its powerfull to our calling; thats preaching.
Of the firſt, that its Goſpell, and not Law, Scriptures plentifully witneſſe. 1 Thats the mRom. 1.16, 17.power of God to ſaluation; for it onelyonly reueales the righteouſneſſe of God; the meanes of reconcilement vntounto him; therefore ſtiled the n2 Cor. 5.19.word of reconciliation. 2 That o2 Cor. 3.6, 9.Spirit, not Letter; the ministration of the Spirit; the miniſtery by which the Spirit giues life and ability to doe what it preſcribes.
Howbeit, in the conuerſion of a ſinner, there is vſe of the Law, and that miniſtery of condemnation: 1 to humble the ſoule ſwelling with conceit of righteouſneſſe, bypRom. 3.20. conuincing it of ſinne. 2 To make it qRom. 7.9.ſenſible of miſerie to which for ſin its lyable. 3 That ſo it may be our rGal. 3.24.Schoolemaster to Chriſt: preparatiue therefore it is to conuerſion: yet as Moſes brought onelyonly to the borders of the promiſed land, Ioſhuah ſet them in poſſeſſion. So the Law prepares vsus a people to Chriſt, the Goſpell makes vsus ſo, Iohn 1.17.
Of the ſecond: In what manner propounded? Reſp. Preached vntounto vsus. What call we preaching? Reſp. Not eueryevery telling a faire tale in a pulpit; or ſinging a piece of deſcant vponupon a Text: But the 1 opening and interpreting of the doctrine of the Goſpell: and 2 the applying of it to the ſtate and vſe of the hearers. Compare theſe Scriptures, Neh. 8.8. Luk. 24.27, 32. Iob 33.23. 2 Tim. 4.2. 1 Cor. 14.24, 25. Whither this be done publiquely e ſuggeſtu in the Congregation, or in priuate Conference; de Scripto or memoriter: with a ſet Text or without, matters not to the nature of preaching.
But that this is the meane ordinary of vocation, the meane ordinary ſine quo non, Scriptures are plentifull, Rom. 10.14, 17. How ſhall they heare to belieue without a preacher? 1 Cor. 1.21. It pleaſed God by fooliſhneſſe of preaching to ſaue them that belieue. Hence the charge ſo ſtrict, to Timothy deliuered with ſolemneſt adiuration, to preach the word, 2 Tim. 4.1, 2. and woe to vsus, to whom the diſpenſation is committed, if we preach not the Goſpell, 1 Cor. 9. ſee alſo Ezech. 3.18. & 34.2.
But is not reading the Scriptures to the people preaching? Reſp. In large ſenſe it is foreign, a publike proclaiming of the word of God. But ſhall we ſay that preaching which in ſtrict ſenſe Scripture ſo cals? for ſhame, when Paul bids Timothie preach the word, meanes he, read it diſtinctly? ſee his owne explication, and drawing that whole into parts, 2 Tim. 4.2. when he commands to ſtudy to ſhow himſelfe approued, a workman that needs not be aſhamed: ment he reading diſtinctly? 2 Tim. 2.15. rather right diuiding the word. When Chriſt aſcended on high, and gaue ſEph. 4.8, 11.gifts to men, fitting them to the worke of the ministerie in their ſeuerall degrees, was this amongſt their habiliments?
Miſtake not as if I would vilifie publique Reading: I know it Gods ordinance, vſefull and efficacious to the ends whereto its aſſigned: And hauehave ſo farre expreſſed my iudgement in my rude notes on the former Epiſtle. Howbeit would hauehave no man, in louelove of his ignorance, or ouerloue of eaſe, ſo farre miſtaken, as to thinke he hath done the whole of that worthy, that t1▪ Tim 3.1. & 5.17, 18.toyleſome worke of the ministery, when he hath read faire ſeruice vntounto the people. Nor be ſo erronious againſt ſenſe, as to thinke reading that kinde of preaching, which Scripture makes inſtrument of effectuall calling.
Of Gods ſelecting it and ſeparating it to this vſe, other Reaſon we can giuegive none ſaue his foreign, 1 Cor. 1.21. Howbeit, Congruence you may obſerue 1 Cor. 14.25. 2 Tim. 4 2. & 2.15.
And would you pleaſe ſeriouſly to view, and compare Congregations wanting this meanes, with thoſe to which God hath granted conſtant preaching of his Truth, the greateſt Antipreacher ſhall be forced to ſee as great oddes, as betwixt Sodome and Sion in her beautie, betwixt ignorance and knowledge, betwixt ciuility and ſanctity, betwixt corruption and grace, betwixt the ſonnes of God, and the children of Belial,
Ʋſe 1 On which ground I hope I may without preſumption minde my reuerend Brethren of the Miniſtery, of what Paul with ſolemneſt adiuration chargeth vponupon Timothie, tou2 Tim. 4.2. preach the word to be instant in ſeaſon out of ſeaſon: 1 the*3. itch of the eares hath infected the people: thats little. 2xActs 20.29. Wolues enter or inſideate not ſparing the flocke. 3 We watch for their ſoules as thoſe that yHeb. 13.17.ſhall giuegive account. 4 Bloud of ſoules cries lowder, then that of Abel, which yet God threatens to zEzech. 3.18.require of vsus, in caſe of our negligence. 5a1 Cor. 9.16. Ezech. 34.2. Woes are many to rouſe vsus; with all comfortable promiſes many to animate and encourage: 1 thebMat 28.10. Lord ſhall be with vsus, to protect our perſons, to bleſſe our miniſtery: 2 whatſoeuer our iſſue is, yet are we to God a c2 Cor. 2.15.ſweet ſauour: 3 though we labour in vaine, yet our dIſai 49.4.reward is with the Lord, and our worke with our God 4 If bleſſing added, ſuch as we expect, thats 1e1 Cor. 9.2. ſeale to our ſending: 2 Meanes of our farre fDan. 12.3.more glorious reward.
To the people I ſay as Paul, g1 Theſ. 5.20.Deſpiſe not Propheſie; ſlight not this ordinance, without which, where its granted,hPro. 29 18. none are ſaued: Oh the ſubtiltie of Sathan to alienate mindes of people from this meane of their ſaluation; forſooth none worſe then thoſe that runne after Sermons. Take heede I beſeech you, yee be not entangled in crime little leſſe then that of blaſphemie: if perhaps you impute the notorious lewdneſſe of hypocrites, to Gods ordinance, as cauſe of it. 1 Thus I thinke I may ſay of ſuch people, as Ieremie of his figs; the iIer 24 3.good none better, the euill none worſe. 2 But this by accident onelyonly, and by ſecret iudgement of God; not by natiue efficacy of the ordinance.
Know them that labour amongſt you, and hauehave them in ſingular louelove for their works ſake: ſuch eſpecially as whoſe Miniſtery God hath bleſſed to your ſoules. By them you hauehave 1 Chriſtianity: 2 honour of birth: 3 ſaluation of Soules. How kRom. 10 & 16 Act. 10. & 16.beautifull hauehave feet of Ministers bin to gracious eyes of ancient Saints? Times are changed: But who ſo profeſſeth conuerſion, yea but confirmation and growth in Grace by our Miniſtery, and yet delights in diſgrace of our perſo is, publiſheth to all men rightly iudging, his no ſound feeling the ſauing power of our Miniſtery.
2 The iſſue and terme of calling, obtaining the glory of our Lord leſus Chriſt: vnderſtand it the ſame in kinde whereto Chriſts humanity is aduanced, reſeruing to him onelyonly his priuiledge in the meaſure. 1 Cleare viſion of God; perfit renouation of the l2 Cor. 3.18.image of God, into which we are now tranſlated from glory to glory. 2 Our bodies made mPhil. 3.21.like to his glorious body, immortall, in paſſible, ſpirituall, clad with glorious clarity and ſplendor. 3 Our whole perſons aduanced to be his n2 Cor. 6.2, 3.Aſſeſſours in the iudgement of Men and Angels. Such honour hauehave all Gods Saints: ſuch glory doth Gods calling lead vsus vntounto, Phil. 3.14.
Ʋſe Learne to endure the croſſe, to deſpiſe the ſhame,oHeb. 13.13. to goe out of the world, bearing the reproach of Christ: Itsp2 Tim. 2.11, 12 a faithfull ſaying, if we ſuffer with him, we ſhall alſo raigne with him: and to be trembled at that is ſubioyned, if we denie him, he will deny vsus. AndqRom. 8.17. heires we are of God, coheires with Chriſt; yet hac lege, if we ſuffer with him, that we may be alſo glorified with him. And of the comfort thus farre: follow the meanes preſcribed for preuention of ſuch errour.