The Christian Warfare Part 1, Book 2 · Chapter 37
CHAP. XXXVII. How we may know whether we be effectually called or no.
§. Sect. 1 ANd ſo much concerning thoſe reaſons whereby the humbled and repentant ſinner may gather vntounto himſelfe certaine aſſurance of the pardon and remiſſion of his ſinnes:How Sathan perſwadeth the weake Chriſtian, that he is not called. of all which conſolations Sathan earneſtly indeuoureth to ſpoile the afflicted ſoule, by ſuggeſting into his mind diuers ſubtill and dangerous tentations. As firſt, that all theſe gratious promiſes & ſweet conſolations of the goſpell do onelyonly belong vntounto thoſe who are called▪ neither to all in this number, for many are called but few are choſen, but vntounto thoſe alone whoſe calling is effectuall, that is to ſay, who are ſeperated from the world, giuen vntounto Chriſt and Chriſt vntounto them, and who are ingrafted into him, and become liuely members of his body: but thou, will he ſay to the humbled ſinner art not thus effectually called, and therefore do not flatter thy ſelfe with the hope of Gods promiſes, for though in themſelues they are moſt certaine, yet they belong not vntounto thee, but vntounto thoſe alone whoſe calling is effectuall.
How we may withſtand the former tentations.Againſt which tentation if wee would ſtrengthen our ſelues, we muſt examine our calling whether it be effectuall or no; and that both by conſidering the meanes whereby all are effectually called, and alſo the partes of effectuall calling, making application of both vntounto our owne particular. For the firſt, wee may thus reaſon againſt our ſpirituall enemy, whoſoeuer can find the meanes of effectuall calling, power fully working in himſelfe, and conuerting him vntounto God he is effectually called, but I hauehave and doe find theſe meanes thus working in me, and therefore I doe not flatter my ſelfe with vaine hope, but am certainely aſſured that I am effectually called and conuerted.
§. Sect. 2 The meanes whereby wee are effectually called,Of the means of our effectuall calling. are firſt the ſauing and fruitfull hearing of Gods word, by the miniſtery whereof the Lord calleth and inuiteth vsus to come vntounto him by vnfained repentance, and to our ſauiour Chriſt by a liuely faith euen when wee are dead in our ſinnes, without any deſire to will or abilitie to perfourme any thing that is good,Ezech. 16.6. whileſt wee are the bondſlaues of Sathan and mecre worldlings,Eph. 2.1.3.12.13. not deſiring nor once thinking vponupon the means of our ſaluation. And this is done firſt by the preaching of the law, by which is reuealed vntounto vsus our innumerable hainous ſinnes, and the fearefull puniſhments due vntounto them: as that we by our continuall tranſgreſſion are ſubiect to theRom. 7.7. curſe of the law, vnable to perfourme obedience vntounto any of the commaundements or to make ſatisfaction to Gods iuſtice for the leaſt of our ſins, and ſo conſequently that we are obnoxious to Gods wrath, ſubiect to thoſe horrible torments prouided for the wicked, and therefore in reſpect of our ſelues, our owne righteouſneſſe, ſatisfaction, or any other meanes of our owne whatſoeuer in a moſt damnable and deſperate eſtate. Secondly, after the Lawe hath thus ſhewed vntounto vsus our ſins & the puniſhments due vntounto them, the Lord by the miniſterie of the goſpel doth reueale vntounto vsus a plaine way by which we may come out of this miſerable eſtate, and attaine vntounto euerlaſting ſaluation, namely by beleeuing and ayplying vntounto our ſelues Chriſt Ieſus and all his benefites. Thirdly with this outward miniſterie of the word the Lord ioyneth the inwarrd cooperation of his holy ſpirit, whereby hee openeth our deafe eares, and maketh vsus attentiuely to heare,Pſal. 40.6. Iohn 6.44. Act. 16.14. 1. Ioh. 2.20.27. and as with a precious eyeſalue illightens the blind eyes of our vnderſtandings, enabling vsus to conceiue and vnderſtand thoſe things which are deliuered vntounto vsus, both out of the law, and out of the Goſpel.
§. Sect. 3 The 2. meanes of our effectuall calling.The ſecond meanes of our effectuall calling is the ſoftening of our harde hartes, when as the Lorde taketh away our ſtonie hartes, and giueth vsus hartes of fleſh, as hee promiſeth Ezec. 11.19. And breaketh vp theſe fallow grounds fit in themſelues to bring forth no fruite but weedes and thiſtles, that ſo they may bee prepared to receiue the ſeed of his word, and bee made fruitfull in all grace. And thus our ſtubborne & rebellious hartes are ſoftened when as we particularly apply vntounto our ſelues the doctrine of the law, wherby firſt wee come to the knowing and acknowledging of our finnes, original and actual. Secondly our hartes are pricked, and our conſciences wounded by apprehending and applying to our guiltie ſoules the curſe of the lawe, the anger of God, and thoſe feareful puniſhments prepared for the wicked. Thirdly ſeeing this our miſerie, and finding no means of our owne how wee may come out of this wretched eſtate, wee are brought to deſpaire of our own ſtrength, righteouſneſſe and ſatisfaction,, finding them of no vertue for our iuſtification. By all which, being throughly humbled and caſt downe in our ſelues, the Lorde by the preaching of the goſpel doth reueale vntounto vsus a way how we may eſcape out of this miſerable eſtate, by applying vntounto our ſelues Chriſt Ieſus, and all his meritts and obedience by a true and liuely faith; after which the humbled ſinner ſeeing his owne wants and miſerie by the lawe, and perceiuing that our ſauiour Chriſt is ſo rich in meritts, that hee can canſily ſupply all his defects, and ſo gratious and powerfull that hee can and will free him out of his wretchedneſſe, he doth plainely diſcerne that hee ſtandeth exceedingly in need of Chriſt Ieſus and his righteouſneſſe. After which ſenſe of his owne wantes there is begott in him an carneſt and hungring deſire to bee made partaker of Ieſus Chriſt his righteouſneſſe, meritts, obedience, and of all thoſe ineſtimable benefitts which are purchaſed by them. And laſtly hee is mooued to appeale from the ſentence of the law, to the throne of grace, pleading not his owne righteouſneſſe or ſatiſfaction, but Chriſts meritts and obedience.
The third and laſt meanes of our effectuall calling is a true and liuely faith,The 3. meanes whereby we apprehend Chriſt Ieſus and all his benefitts giuen and applyed vntounto vsus by Gods ſpirite, reſting vponupon him alone for our iuſtification and ſaluation..
§. Sect. 4 That all … find the former meanes powerfull in them are effectually called.And theſe are the meanes of our effectuall calling, which whoſoeuer hath found powerfull working in themſelues for their conuerſion after the manner before ſpoken of, they may moſt certainely aſſure themſelues that they are effectually called, and are alreadie partakers of Ieſus Chriſt and all his benefites. If therefore the Lorde whileſt wee did lye frozen in the dregs of our ſinnes, without all deſire of grace or meanes to eſcape our ſinnes, without all deſire of grace or meanes to eſcape out of our miſerie, hath vouchſafed vntounto vsus the miſterie of his holy word, if by the law hee hath reuealed our ſinnes vntounto vsus and the puniſhmentes due vntounto them, and if by the goſpell hee hath ſhewed vsus the way how we may come out of this miſerie; if by the inward cooperation of his holy ſpirit he hath opened our deafe cares, and with this precious eyeſalue hath annointed the blinde eies of our vnderſtandings ſo that we hauehave attentiuely heard, and in ſome meaſure vnderſtoode thoſe principles of our chriſtian religion, which hauehave in the miſterie of the worde beene deliuered vntounto vsus; if our hartes hauehave beene ſoftened and pearced, and our conſciences wounded with the ſight and ſenſe of our ſinnes; if diſparing in our owne ſtrength, righteouſneſſe and all other meanes of our owne, wee hauehave gone out of our ſelues, and reſted and relied vponupon Chriſt Ieſus alone for our iuſtification and ſaluation, then are wee without all doubt effectually called and are in the number of Gods church and people to whom the promiſes of grace doe appertaine.
§. Sect. 5 That we may know that we are effectually called by conſidering the ſeuerall parts thereof.Secondly we may come to the knowledge of our effectuall calling, by conſidering the ſeuerall parts thereof. The firſt is our ſelection and ſeparation out of the corrupt maſſe of mankind, whereby it commeth to paſſe that though wee be in the world, yet we are not of the world, and therefore wee neither louelove it, nor the world vsus; and this our Sauiour ſheweth, Ioh. 15.19. If (ſaith he) hee were of the world the world would louelove his owne, but becauſe yee are not of the worlde, but I hauehave choſen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. 1. Ioh. 2.15.and the apoſtle Iohn affirmeth, that if any man louelove the worlde the louelove of the father is not in him. 1. Ioh. 2.15. and the apoſtle Iames telleth vsus that the amitie of the world is enmitie with God, Iam. 4.4.and therefore whoſoeuer will bee a friend of the worlde maketh himſelfe the enemie of God. If therefore our louelove and affectiōs be weaned in ſome good meaſure from the world, and fixt on ſpirituall and heauenly things, if wee ceaſe to be citizens of the world,Phil. 3.29. and begin to hauehave our conuerſation in in heauen from whence wee looke for a ſauiour euen the Lorde Ieſus Chriſt; and if the world beginne to hate and ſcorne vsus, then may we be aſſured that wee are ſeuered from the world, and intertained into Gods church and familie.
§. Sect. 6 Sathans tentation anſwered whereby he perſwadeth the chriſtian that he loueth the world and the world him.But here the tempter will obiect, that by this it plainely appeareth that wee are not yet effectually called nor ſeperated from the world, becauſe we ſtill louelove the world affecting and deſiring the vaine pleaſures, honoures, & riches thereof, yea and alſo louelove thoſe who are meere worldlings, and on the other ſide the world alſo loueth vsus, giuing vsus good countenance and performing other duties vntounto vsus. For the anſwering of which ſuggeſtion we muſt diſtinguiſh betweene our ſelues and our ſelues; for whileſt we continue in this life wee are partly fleſh and partly ſpirit, and as there is great enmitie betweene the ſpirit and the world, ſo is there great amitie betweene the world and the fleſh. So farre forth therefore as wee are ſtill carnall and corrupt fleth the world loueth vsus, but as much as is ſpirituall and regenerate ſo much the world hateth and abhorreth. Moreouer we may generally be conſidered as men, or more ſpecially as we are Chriſtian men; in the firſt reſpect, the world that is wicked worldlings may louelove vsus for ſome naturall partes or meere morall vertues, or els in common humanitie as members of the ſame ciuill or politicke body: but as wee are Chriſtians who hauehave giuen our names vntounto God & diuoted our ſelues to his worſhip and ſeruice, the world hateth vsus and our profeſſion, religion, and all the fruits and exerciſes of ſanctification and holineſſe, ſo that though in other naturall, worldly, and more ciuill reſpects it loueth vsus, yet in regard of our regeneration and the fruites thereof it cannot indure vsus, and our companie and conuerſation is exceeding tedious, irkſome and vnpleaſant. So on the other ſide whereas Sathan obiecteth that we louelove the world that is carnal worldly men, we may anſwere that euen as we are regenerate, it is lawfull to louelove them in the ſame reſpects which they louelove vsus, namely as they are men & the excellent creatures of God, as they are indued with excellent naturall giftes or morall vertues, as they are of the ſame ciuill body or kinred, or as they hauehave beene vſed of God as his inſtruments for the boſtowing of any his benefits vponupon vsus: in which reſpects louing them, we may notwithſtanding with a true zeale hate & abhorre their vices, their carnall worldlineſſe, prophane irreligion, and wicked conuerſation. Neither will religion make vsus to lay aſide all humanitie and transforme vsus into ſome brutiſh, or rather diueliſh Timon who was a hater of men. For euen our ſauiour Chriſt himſelf who was wholy exēpted from ſinne, notwithſtanding loued the worldly yong man for ſome good things he ſaw in him though he were not religious, yea though he were ſo carnall that hee preferred his vaine and vncertaine riches before the ſaluation of his ſoule, as appeareth Mark. 10.21.22. So alſo he vſed all humanitie and ciuill conuerſation euen amongſt the Publicans and ſinners, that he might hauehave the better opportunitie of conuerting all thoſe who belonged to Gods electiō. And therfore we need not feare to follow Chriſts example ſo it be with the ſame holy affection. For we alſo muſt indeauour to gaine thoſe vntounto Chriſt who are without, and by our holy cōuerſation giuegive them occaſion of glorifying God in the day of their viſitation as the apoſtle exhorteth vsus, 1. Pet. 2.12. which we can neuer doe by hatred, rough ſeueritie, and ſinicall inhumanitie, but with louing curteſie, vpright behauiour, gentle admonitions and charitable reprehenſions. But if through our corruptiō we giuegive ſathan occaſion further to obiect, that vnderunder theſe pretences we ſet our harts too much vponupon the world louing worldings more then thoſe who are of the houſhould of faith and more delighting in their vaine conuerſation for outward reſpects then in the companie of the faithfull if not alwaies yet oftentimes, we are to anſwere that though theſe be ſinnes in vsus, and notable ſignes of our great corruption, yet are they no ſtronge arguments that we are not yet effectually called, or truely ſeuered frō the world, for as much as we are not wholy ſeperated frō the world, but only ſo much of vsus as is ſpirituall and regenerate; ſo that it is no meruaile if the the fleſh and vnregenerate part ſtill louelove the world, bebecauſe it is ſtill worldly; but if in the inner man wee hate this louelove, and ſtriue to bridle yea to mortifie it, if we are truly ſory and diſpleaſed with our ſelues for this as for other ſins and labour to refourme it, wee may be aſſured that the ſpirite of God is in vsus, which hath ſeuered vsus from the world, & ioyned vsus to the body of Ieſus Chriſt.
§. Sect. 7 The like alſo may be anſwered concerning the louelove of worldly things, honours, riches and pleaſures;How far forth we may louelove worldly things. we may louelove them as they are the bleſſings of God, and deſire them ſo farr foorth as they are temporall benefitts, and furtherances or at leaſt no hinderances in the workes of holineſſe and righteouſneſſe, we may ſo louelove them as that in the meane time our louelove be ſubordinate to the louelove of God, our brethren & ſpirituall things. But if our louelove paſſe theſe limitts it is corrupt and carnall, yet no vndoubted argument to proue that we are not effectually called, if we are diſpleaſed with it and labour againſt it, though oftētimes we are ouercome therewith through the violence of our carnall affections and the corruptions of the fleſh, yet if wee hate this ſinne in the inner man, if wee entertaine through violence, and not with affection and delight, if it dwell in vsus but doe not raigne in vsus, if but ſometimes it gett the vpper hand and doe not continually ouerrule vsus, it is no more wee that doe it but ſinne that dwelleth in vsus, that is the old man and corrupt fleſh, which whileſt wee liue in this life will beare ſome ſway in vsus.
That the world loueth them not whō Sathan hateth.Laſtly when as Sathan aſſaulteth the poore chriſtian with his tentations, perſwading him that he is not yet called nor ſeparated from the wicked world, becauſe it loueth him, he may well ſuſpect his argument of falſhood, for Sathan doth not hate thoſe whom the world loueth; but by his continuall aſſaulting of the weake chriſtian, and his dayly labouring to bring him through the violence of his tentations to vtter deſtruction, it manifeſtly appeareth that Sathan like a mortall enimie deadly hateth him; and therefore it is not likely that he is beloued of the world though it may for a time fawne vponupon him, that by pretending louelove and friendſhipp it may worke him the greater miſchiefe.
§. Sect. 8 The ſecond part of our effectuall calling is the mutuall donation of God the father,Of the ſecond part of our effectuall calling. whereby he hath giuen Chriſt Ieſus vntounto vsus to be our ſauiour and redeemer, and vsus vntounto Chriſt to be ſaued and redeemed, by which alſo wee may proue that we are effectually called. For this gift is mutuall and reciprocal, and therefore the one doth clearely proue the other, ſo that if we can hauehave any aſſurance that Chriſt is giuen vntounto vsus, then may we alſo be aſſured that we are giuen vntounto Chriſt, and contrariwiſe if we hauehave any aſſurance that we are giuen vntounto Chriſt, then may we be alſo aſſured that Chriſt is giuen vntounto vsus, and conſequently that wee are effectually called for this mutuall donation is one parte thereof. Now wee may bee aſſured that Chriſt is giuen vntounto vsus if wee beleeue in him reſting vppon him alone for our iuſtification and ſaluation, as appeareth Ioh. 3.16. So God loued the world that hee hath giuen his onelyonly begotten ſonne that as many as beleeue in him ſhould not periſh but hauehave euerlasting life, and ſo alſo we may be aſſured that wee are giuen vntounto Chriſt, if wee heare his voice and follow him, as himſelfe ſpeaketh Ioh. 10.27. and ſubmitt our ſelues to bee led and gouerned by his ſpirit, for as many as are led by the ſpirite of God they are the ſonnes of God, and whoſoeuer are ſonnes are heires of God, and heires annexed with Chriſt. as it is Rom. 8.14.16.
How thoſe that are giuē to Chriſt, keep his word.But here Sathan will obiect that thoſe who are giuen vntounto Chriſt hauehave kept his word, as himſelf alſo affirmeth Ioh. 17.6. How therefore will he ſay, canſt thou be aſſured that thou art one of thoſe who are giuen vntounto him, ſeeing thou keepeſt it not but continually tranſgreſſeſt his commaundementes? To which wee muſt anſwere that the worde of Chriſt is his goſpell, wherein hee promiſeth euerlaſting life to all that beleeue in him, and bring forth the fruites of their faith in vnfained repentance. as it appeareth Ioh. 5.38. where hee thus ſpeaketh to the vnbeleeuing Iewes: And his word (ſaith he) hauehave yee not abiding in you: for whom he hath ſent, him yee beleeue not; whereby it is manifeſt if Chriſts reaſoning bee of ſound conſequence, that thoſe hauehave his word abiding in them who beleeue in him, whom God hath ſent euen our Lorde and Sauiour Ieſus Chriſt. So that we keepe the word of our Sauiour when wee beleeue in him, reſting and relying vponupon him alone for our ſaluation, and truely repent vsus of our ſins, ſorrowing and grieuing that by them we hauehave offended and diſpleaſed our louing God and mercifull father, hating our ſinnes becauſe they are ſinnes, purpoſing and labouring to forſake them, and indeuouring according to the meaſure of ſtrength and grace receiued, to ſerue the Lord in holineſſe and newneſſe of life. And therefore if wee can find in our ſelues this faith and this repentance, wee may vndoubtedly be aſſured notwithſtanding our manifould falls and greate corruptions that we hauehave kept the word of Chriſt, and therefore are giuen vntounto him of the father; and conſequently that we are effectually called and ſhalbe eternally glorified. For it is the will of the father that whoſoeuer beleeueth in his ſon Ieſus Christ ſhoulde hauehave euerlaſting life, as our Sauiour teſtifieth Ioh. 6.40. As for our corruptions they ſhall bee waſhed away with the bloud of Chriſt, and our imperfections ſhall bee couered with the rich robe of his perfect righteouſneſſe, ſo that in him wee ſhall appeare perfect before Gods iudgment ſeate, and there bee accepted as iuſt and righteous.
§. Sect. 9 The third part of our effectuall calling is our vnion and communion with Chriſt,Of the third part of our effectuall calling. whereby he becommeth our head and wee his members, of which whoſoeuer can bee aſſured, they need not to make any queſton of their effectual calling; but all thoſe who are indued with faith are vnited vntounto Chriſt, for it is a propertie thereof to apply vntounto our ſelues Chriſt and all his benefitts, it is the hand of the ſoule whereby wee lay hould vponupon Chriſt, it is the mouth of the ſoule wherby we ſpiritually feed vpō him, & he that eateth his fleſh, and drinketh his bloud dwelleth in Chriſt and Chriſt in him, as himſelfe ſpeaketh, Ioh. 6.56. So alſo whoſoeuer are indued with Gods ſpirit and hauehave ſubmitted themſelues to bee led and gouerned thereby, they are ingrafted in the bodie of Chriſt, for the ſpirit is the bloud of this vnion, and therefore if wee can diſcerne the ſpirit of God in vsus by any of the fruits thereof,Gal. 5.22. wee may bee aſſured that wee are the members of Chriſt, and conſequently effectually called. Laſtly wee may be aſſured that wee are ingrafted in the bodie of Chriſt by our worke of ſaluation, either appertaining to Gods ſeruice or chriſtian righteouſneſſe towards our neighbour, for it is impoſſible that wee ſhoulde bring foorth any ripe grapes of godlineſſe if wee were notingrafted in the true vine Ieſus Chriſt, as himſelfe affirmeth, Ioh. 15.4. Abide in mee and I in you: as the branch cannot beare fruite of it ſelfe except it abide in the vine. no more can yee except yee abide in mee: 5. I am the vine, ye are the branches, hee that abideth in me and I in him the ſame bringeth forth much fruites for without mee yee can doe nothing. And therefore if wee make conſcience of our wayes, and exerciſe our ſelues in ſome meaſure, in thoſe good workes which the Lorde hath commaunded in obedience to his will, and to this end that his name may be glorified, wee may aſſure our ſelues that wee are ingrafted into the true vine Chriſt Ieſus, for of our ſelues we are altogether vnfruitfull and could doe nothing.
§ Sect. 10 But here Sathan will obiect that this argument maketh againſt our ſelues,That we may be vnited vntounto Chriſt though we alwaies bring forth ſmall fruits and ſometime no fruites. for we thereby make it manifeſt that we are not ingrafted into Chriſt, becauſe our fruites of holineſſe and righteouſneſſe are commonly exceeding ſmall, and ſometimes none at al, wheras the liuely branches of this vine are exceeding fruitfull, and abundant in good workes. To which we are to anſwere, that all the branches of the vine do not bring forth fruits in like aboundance, but ſome more and ſome leſſe, and yet notwithſtanding this doth not proue that theſe are not true branches as well as the other although they receiue leſſe ſappe and liuely iuyce from the roote and ſtocke, and ſo alſo it is in this myſticall vine; if the branches be not altogeather barren and fruitleſſe, though their fruites be not in ſo greate aboundance, yet if it bee right and of the ſame nature with the other, they may aſſure themſelues that they alſo are liuely branches of the true vine Ieſus Chriſt; neither is the quātity & nūber of our fruits ſo much in this regard to be reſpected; for if according to the quātitie of ſap & goodiuice which we receiue frō our root we bring forth fruit, that is, if according to that meaſure of grace & giftes of Gods holy ſpirit, which our ſauiour Chriſt hath beſtowed vponupon vsus, we ſpend our liues in Gods ſeruice which himſelfe hath commaunded to the end that we may glorifie his holy name, we may aſſure our ſelues that we are true branches of this vine, which our Sauiour will purge and prune that wee may bringe forth more fruites, as he hath promiſed. Ioh. 15.2. moreouer whereas Sathan obiecteth, that wee are not branches of this vine, becauſe at ſome times wee can ſhew no fruits; wee are to anſwere that as the earthly vine hath not alwayes grapes, no not ſo much as leaues vponupon it, and yet notwithſtanding it liueth, receiuing nouriſhment from the roote, and bringeth forth fruit in due time and ſeaſon, ſo that the braunches of this miſticall vine are ſome time without the fruites of good workes, yea, hauehave not ſo much to bee ſeene vponupon them as the faire greene leaues of an outward profeſſion, as it is moſt vſuall when as they are throughly nypped with the could winter of tentations, and hauehave all their beautie blaſted and blowne away with the boyſterous blaſts of ſathans fierce incounters; and yet at the ſame time they receiue the ſapp, iuyce, and vertue of Gods ſpirit from their roote Ieſus Chriſt, by which they ſeeming dead doe liue and receiue nouriſhment; vntill at Gods good pleaſure the comfortable beames of his louelove and fauour do ſhine vponupon them, with which their frozen hartes being throughly warmed, doe againe bring forth not onelyonly the leaues of profeſſion, but alſo the ripe fruits of godlineſſe and righteouſneſſe, and therefore though preſently in ſuch caſes wee hauehave no fruites to ſhewe yet let not Sathan perſwade vsus that we are not true branches of this vine? for if we can call to mind, that euer in former times we hauehave brought forth any right and kindly fruites of ſanctification and true godlineſſe, we are true branches of the vine Chriſt which hee will lop and prune and againe make fruitfull; for out of him we could neuer hauehave brought forth ſuch fruites, and thoſe who are once ingrafted into him can neuer poſſibly be plucked away by Sathan, the world, or al the powers of hell,Ioh. 15.4. Ioh. 10.28. though (as I ſaid) they may for a time bee nipped and ſhrewdly weather beaten.