The Christian Warfare Part 1, Book 2 · Chapter 17
CHAP. XVII. Of our Vocation.
§. Sect. 1 ANd thus much concerning our redemption; the next cauſe of our ſaluation is our vocation: for, whomſoeuer the Lord hath elected vntounto euerlaſting life, thoſe alſo he hath redeemed out of the hands of their ſpirituall enemies; and whom he hath redeemed, thoſe in his good time he effectually calleth, and applieth this great benefit of their redemption vntounto them, by ſeparating them from the world, and ingrafting them into the body of Chriſt, whereby they become his, and he with all his benefits becometh theirs.
VVhat our calling is.In ſpeaking hereof, I will ſhew firſt what this calling is, and afterwards anſwere Sathans temptations, whereby he laboreth to make it fruſtrate and vnprofitable vntounto vsus. For the firſt, our vocation or calling is an effect of Gods election, whereby our Sauiour Chriſt, God and man, doth by his kingly authoritie call and inuite vsus whilſt we liue here, vntounto the participation and imbracing of the ineſtimable benefit of our redemption, that thereby we may attaine vntounto euerlaſting life.
And thus are we called ſometimes ſooner, and ſometimes later, when it ſeemeth good vntounto the Lord: as appeareth in the parable of the houſeholder, who hired laborers into his vineyard, ſome at the dawning of the day, others at the third, ſixt, and ninth howre,Matth. 20. others at the eleuenth howre, not long before the ſunne ſetting, as it is Matth. 20.
A twofold calling, generall and effectuall.Moreouer, this our calling, is either commune and generall, or els ſpeciall and effectuall. The general calling, is whereby all indifferently, good and bad, elect and reprobate, are outwardly inuited by the miniſterie of the Goſpell, to imbrace the benefit of our redemption wrought by Chriſt: which outward calling is vneffectuall to the wicked and reprobates, becauſe being inuited to the ſupper of the King they refuſe to come, that is, they either altogether neglect the hearing of the heauenly ambaſſage of the Goſpell, or els contemne thoſe ineſtimable benefits which are therein offered, preferring before them the honors, riches, and pleaſures of this life; whereby it commeth to paſſe, that the word of God findeth no place in their hearts, but vaniſheth away, leauing nothing behinde it but the ſauour of death, to their more deepe condemnation.
§. Sect. 2 The ſpeciall and effectuall calling is,VVhat our effectuall calling is. that which is proper to Gods elect, when as with the outward miniſterie of the word, wherein grace and ſaluation is offered to all beleeuers, our Sauiour Chriſt ioyneth the inward operation of his holy ſpirit; which openeth our deafe eares, inlighteneth our blind vnderſtandings, and ſoftneth and ſanctifieth our hard and corrupt hearts, ſo as we attentiuely heare, truely vnderſtand, and by a liuely faith apply, the doctrine of grace and ſaluation which is preached vntounto vsus; whereby alſo we are ſeparated from the world, giuen to Chriſt and he to vsus, whereupon followeth that neere vnion, whereby we being ingrafted into his body, miſtically doe become his members, and he our head.
Effectuall calling proper to the elect.That this effectuall calling is proper to thoſe that are elected and ſhall be ſaued, it appeareth by the parable of the ſupper, where many, outwardly inuited to the great ſupper of the king, refuſe to come,Matth. 22.3.8. & therefore are excluded from the mariage, Mat. 22.3.8. And Rom. 8▪ 30, the Apoſtle ſaith that whom he did predeſtinate, them alſo he called, and theſe alſo he iuſtifieth. Rom 8.30.So Act. 13.48. it is ſaid that as many as were ordained to euerlaſting life, beleeued at the preaching of Paul and Barnabas, Act. 13.48.and therefore theſe onelyonly were effectually called.Ioh. 6.45. And Ioh. 6 45. our Sauiour ſaith, that eueryevery one who hath heard and hath learned of the father, commeth vntounto him. So that, outward hearing is not ſufficient to bring vsus to Chriſt, vnleſſe the father alſo inwardly inſtruct vsus with his holy ſpirit, opening our deafe eares, inlightening our blynd vnderſtandings, inclining our willes, and ſanctifying our affections, that we may attentiuely heare, truely vnderſtand, and heartily imbrace the Goſpell preached vntounto vsus. And this appeareth in the example of Lydia, Act. 16.14.Act. 16.14. whoſe heart the Lord is ſaid to hauehave opened, that ſhe might attend vntounto the things which Paul ſpake, and bee conuerted: by which ſpeech the holy Ghoſt implyeth thus much, that her heart was (as it were) cloſe ſhut, and faſt locked vp, ſo as he could not receiue the word preached, till the Lord had opened it by the inward operation of his holy ſpirit. Which matter neede not ſeeme ſtrange vntounto vsus, ſeeing it is continually confirmed by our owne experience: for how comes it to paſſe that many amongſt vsus, heare the word preached from day to day and yeere to yeere, and yet are neuer the nearer, but ſtill remaine as ignorant in their mindes, as peruerſe in their willes, as corrupt in their affections, as prophane in their liues as euer they were? On the other ſide how hapneth it that ſome attentiuely heare Gods word, treaſure it vp in their memories, and thereby hauehave their minds inlightned with the knowledge of God, their wils inclined to holines and righteouſnes, their affections ſanctified, their liues reformed? ſurely becauſe the Lord doth ioyne in theſe, the inward operation of his ſpirit with the outward miniſterie of his word, making it effectuall for their true conuerſion; whereas he leaueth the other to their owne corrupt affections and hardnes of heart.
And thus it appeareth that the elect onelyonly are effectually called: as for the wicked and reprobate, though they heare the outward preaching of the word, by which they are inuited vntounto Chriſt; yet they ſtubbornly refuſe to come vntounto him, and reiect all the gracious promiſes of the Goſpell, to their eternall perdition; becauſe the Lord leaueth them to their owne luſts and corruption, not opening their hard hearts, nor inclining their peruerſe willes nor ſanctifying their corrupt affections.
§. Sect. 3 In the next place let vsus conſider,Of the parts of effectuall calling, and firſt of our ſeparation from the world. the parts of our effectuall calling; the firſt is our ſeparation from the world, of which in former time wee were citizens and true members, that from henceforth we ſhould be of Gods houſehold and family: for naturally we are meere worldlings, dead in our ſinnes, and to eueryevery good worke reprobate, liuing without God and ſeruing Sathan, the world and the corrupt luſts of our fleſh, vntill it pleaſe the Lord to make choyſe of vsus among many other, calling and ſeparating vsus from this corrupt maſſe of mankind, that he may make vsus ſubiects, firſt of his kingdome of grace, and afterwards of his kingdome of glorie. Of this our Sauiour ſpeaketh Ioh. 15.19.Ioh. 15.19. If you were of the world, the world would louelove his owne; but becauſe you are not of the world, but I hauehave choſen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. And the Apoſtle ſaith that after our calling and conuerſion,Eph. 2.19. we are no more ſtrangers and forreners, but citizens with the ſaints, and of the houſehold of God. Now the Lord maketh this choyſe of vsus before others, not for any reſpect of worthines or excellencie in vsus more then in them, but of his meere merciemercy, vndeſerued grace,That the Lord calleth vsus, not for any reſpect of our own worthines. and free good will; neither doth he therefore intertaine vsus into his Church and family, becauſe wee are alreadie, or becauſe hee knoweth we will bee hereafter holy and righteous; but hauing freely called vsus without any our deſerts, he doth alſo of his owne vndeſerued louelove giuegive vsus his holy ſpirit, whereby we are purged from our corruptions, ſanctified and raiſed vp from the death of ſinne to newnes of life; ſo that our holines is not a cauſe of our calling, but Gods election and calling is a cauſe of our holines. And this appeareth both by teſtimonies of Scripture and examples. For the firſt, the Lord profeſſeth,Eſa. 65.1. Eſa. 65.1. that he offered himſelfe to thoſe that asked not after him, and was found of them that ſought him not &c. The Apoſtle Epheſ. 2.1. affirmeth that euen thoſe who are the Church and people of God, were before their calling and conuerſion, not ſicke only, but euen dead in their ſinnes, in which they walke according to the courſe of the world; Eph. 2.1.3.12.that they were by nature the children of wrath as well as others, as it is verſ. 3. and that they were without Chriſt, aliants from the common-wealth of Iſraell, ſtrangers from the couenant of promiſe, and had no hope, and were without God in the world, as it is verſ. 12. So 1. Cor. 6.11. he ſaith, that thoſe who were now ſanctified and iuſtified, were in time paſt fornicators,1. Cor. 6.11. idolators, adulterers, wantons, buggerers &c. The Apoſtle Peter like wiſe writing to the Church of Chriſt, ſaith both of himſelfe and them alſo, that they had ſpent the time paſt before their conuerſion, after the luſt of the gentiles, walking in wantonneſſe, gluttonie, and in abominable idolatries, 1. Pet. 4.3.1. Pet. 4.3. And the Prophet Eſay ſaith, that we all were wandering ſheepe,Eſa. 53.6. vntill the Lord gathered vsus into his ſheepefold. So that it was ſo far of, that we ſhould deſerue nay grace or merciemercy at Gods hand, that in his iuſtice he might rather hauehave conſumed vsus as his enemies, than called vsus to be his Church and people.
This alſo is plaine in the examples ſpecified in the booke of God: for, what excellencie or worthines was in Abraham who before his calling was an idolater? or in Rahab who had ſpent her time in luſt and filthines? or in Manaſſes who was a cruell idolater, a murtherer, a ſorcerer? or in Matthew who was a publicane? or in Paul who was a bloodie perſecutor? or in the thiefe, who had ſpent his life in al outrage and wickednes? what excellencie or deſert was in any of vsus, who hauehave not ſo much as a thought, or inclination to any good thing, or any power to performe it? and therefore we muſt conclude with the Apoſtle, that we are called with an holy calling, not according to our workes, 2. Tim. 1.9.but according to his owne purpoſe of grace, &c. 2. Tim. 1.9.
§. Sect. 4 The ſecond part of effectuall calling, is that reciprocall donation whereby God the father giueth Chriſt Ieſus his onelyonly begotten ſonne,Of the ſecond part of our effectual calling, to wit, our reciprocall donation. truely and effectually to al his elect, to be their head, redcemer, and Sauiour; and alſo whereby he giueth his elect vntounto Chriſt to become his members, that ſo they may be ſaued and redeemed by him: whereupon all Gods elect may truly ſay, that this Chriſt Ieſus, God and man, is mine head, my Sauiour and redeemer; and all his merits obedience and benefits, purchaſed by both, are become mine by this right, as being a member of his bodie; and our Sauiour alſo, may as truely ſay of Gods elect, that they are his whom he hath right to redeeme and ſaue, becauſe hee is their head and they his members. Of this mutuall donation and gift, the Scriptures ſpeake euidently;Eſa. 9.6. Ioh. 3.16. and firſt that Chriſt is giuen vntounto vsus; Eſa. 9.6. VntoUnto vsus a childe is borne, and vntounto vsus a ſonne is giuen. Ioh. 3.16. So God loued the world, that he gaue his onelyonly begotten ſonne, that whoſoeuer beleeueth in him ſhould not periſh, but hauehave euerlaſting life. Rom. 8.32. Secondly,Rom. 8.32. Ioh. 17.6. that we are giuen vntounto Chriſt, it is manifeſt, Ioh. 17.6. I hauehave declared thy name vntounto the men which thou gaueſt me out of the world, thine they were and thou gaueſt them me, &c. So. Ioh. 10.29. My father which gaue them me is greater then all, and none is able to take them out of my fathers hand. By which places it plainely appeareth, that Chriſt is giuen vntounto vsus by God his father, and we vntounto Chriſt. But in what manner is this mutuall donation made? ſurely not groſely and corporally; but ſpiritually & after a celeſtiall manner: for the meanes whereby it is brought to paſſe on Gods parr, is his diuine and holy ſpitit, and on our part a true and liuely faith.
§. Sect. 5 The third part of effectuall calling, is the vnion and communion which is betwixt Chriſt and Gods elect:Of the third part viz. our vnion with Chriſt. which followeth vponupon the donation before ſpoken of, whereby Chriſt Ieſus and they are miſtically coupled together into one body, hee becomming their head and they becomming his members. Of this the Apoſtle ſpeaketh Epheſ. 4.15.16. where hee exhorteth the faithful, to grow vp into him which is the head, that is Chriſt, Eph. 4.15.by whom all the bodie being coupled together by eueryevery ioynt &c. receiueth increaſe. And chap. 5.30. We are members of his bodie, and 5.30.of his fleſh, and of his bones. And of this our Sauiour Chriſt ſpeaketh in the parable of the vine Ioh. 15.1. where he cōpareth himſelfe to the ſtock & root, and al the faithful to the branches;Ioh. 15.1. and the Apoſtle expreſſeth it by a metaphoricall ſpeech taken from a building, comparing Chriſt to the foundation, and the Church to the reſt of the building, Eph. 2.20.21.22. Now wee muſt not conceiue of this vnion, that it is either natural,Eph. 2.20.21. as the three perſons in Trinitie are vnited in the ſame diuine nature, or perſonall as the bodie and ſoule being vnited make one man, or corporall as the parts of a building are coupled one with another: but this coniunction and vnion is made by the ſpirit of God, which dwelling in the manhood of chriſt aboue meaſure, filling it with the graces thereof, is from it deriued vntounto all the faithfull and true members of Chriſts bodie, filling them with the like graces in meaſure; and on our part by a true and liuely faith, whereby we doe applie vntounto vsus Chriſt Ieſus and all his benefits. And this appeareth Eph. 2.22. where the Apoſtle ſaith that wee are the habitation of God by the ſpirit. Eph. 2.22. 1. Ioh. 4.13.And 1. Ioh 4.13. Hereby we know that we dwell in him and he in vsus, becauſe he hath giuen vsus of his ſpirit. So that by the ſpirit of God dwelling in vsus, we are made one with Chriſt and Chriſt with vsus. Now the manner whereby this vnion is made is this; the faithful man, body and ſoule, is vnited vntounto whole Chriſt God and man; but firſt and immediatly to the humane nature, and mediatly thereby to the diuine nature, both which are moſt neceſſarie; for life and ſaluation is wrought for vsus by vertue and power of the Deitie, but it is deriued and communicated vntounto vsus by the humane nature of Chriſt. According to that Ioh. 6.54. Ioh. 6.54. Whoſoeuer eateth my fleſh and drinketh my bloud, hath eternall life, and I will raiſe him vp at the laſt day. And this is the vnion which is betweene Chriſt our head and vsus his members, by vertue whereof we hauehave ſure intereſt and iuſt title, both to Chriſt and all his benefits, his obedience death and merits, by which we are iuſtified, ſanctified and ſaued.
And ſo much concerning the parts of our effectuall calling; the meanes whereby the Lord thus calleth vsus,Of the meanes of our effectual calling. are firſt on Gods part the preaching of the word, which is made effectuall by the inward operation of his ſpirit; firſt to mollifie our hard hearts, and truly to humble vsus, by ſetting before vsus our ſinnes and corruptions, and this is done by the preaching of the law: and after wee ſee our inabilitie and inſufficiencie of working our owne ſaluation, we are thereby brought out of our ſelues, to ſeeke for ſaluation in Chriſt Ieſus, applying him and his merits vntounto vsus by a true and a liuely faith, and this is done by the preaching of the Goſpell.
The meanes on our part is the ſauing hearing of the word, whereby our hard hearts are mollified, and we truly humbled, and brought out of our ſelues to ſeeke for ſaluation in Chriſt, whereby alſo true faith is begot in vsus, wherewith wee applie, Chriſt vntounto vsus, and relie vponupon him alone for our ſaluation.
And thus hauehave I ſhewed what our vocation is, and the means therof. Now let vsus conſider of thoſe temptations, which Sathan ſuggeſteth into mens minds in reſpect of their vocation, to the end hee may hinder them from the participation and fruition of Chriſt and his benefits, whereunto in the preaching of the word they are called and inuited. And theſe are of two ſorts, firſt thoſe wherewith he aſſaulteth them who are not called: ſecondly, thoſe wherewith he aſſaulteth them who are truly called and conuerted.