Eight Sermons, Sermons · Sermon 8
THE Dignity and Duty OF Gods Called-ones.
1 Theſ. 2.12.
That you would walk worthy of God, who hath called you to his Kingdom and Glory.
IN this Chapter you have a Relation of the Apoſtle Paul's Entrance unto the Theſſalonians, how they received him, and how he preached to them. For your ſelves; Brethren, know our entrance in unto you, that it was not in vain: But even after that we had ſuffered before, and were ſhamefully intreated, as ye know, at Philippi, we were bold in our God to ſpeak unto you the Goſpel of God with much contention, v. 1, 2. It was with much ſincerity that he preached: Our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanneſs, nor in guile, v. 3. In oppoſition to worldly Intereſts: Not as pleaſing men, but God which trieth our hearts. For neither at any time uſed we flattering words, nor a cloke of covetouſneſs; nor of men ſought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been burdenſome as the Apoſtles of Chriſt, v. 4, 5.6, It was with all gentleneſs and love: We were gentle among you, even as a nurſe cheriſheth her children: Being affectionately deſirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the Goſpel of God onelyonly, but alſo our own ſouls, becauſe ye were dear unto us, v. 7, 8. It was with much induſtry and labour: Labouring night and day, becauſe we would not be chargeable to any of you, we preached unto you the Goſpel of God, v. 9. It was with all holineſs of converſation, v. 10. Ye are witneſſes, and God alſo, how holily, and juſtly, and unblameably we behaved our ſelves among you that believe. With all manner of exhortation, v. 11. As ye know how we exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one of you (as a father doth his children) that you would walk worthy of God. So here then you have the Matter exhorted to, and the Motive preſſing thereto; Who hath called you to his Kingdom and Glory. Or, Here you have,
Firſt, The Perſon calling, God.
Secondly, The Dignity called unto; Who hath called you to his Kingdom and Glory.
Thirdly, The Duty that flows from thence; That you would walk worthy of God who hath called you to his Kingdom and Glory.
Hence Obſerve, That it is the duty of all that are called to Gods Kingdom and Glory, to walk worthy of the Kingdom and Glory of God. I ſhall therefore ſhew you.
Firſt, What this Vocation or Calling is; and that there is that in it that may and ſhould provoke us to walk worthy of God.
Secondly, That when God brings home any man to himſelf, he doth it in a way of calling; and why ſo?
Thirdly, That it is the Duty of all that are called to walk worthy of God.
Fourthly, How a man ſhall know that he is truly called.
Fifthly, What we ſhould do, that we may walk worthy of God who hath called us.
Firſt, This Vocation is an Act of Gods Grace and Mercy; whereby we are invited to the great Supper of the Goſpel, to Communion and Fellowſhip with Chriſt. As it is an act of Gods grace and mercy, ſo it is oppoſed to works. Rom. 9.11. For the children being yet unborn, neither having done good or evil, that the purpoſe of God according to election might ſtand; not of works, but of him that calleth. Calling is oppoſite to works. So 2 Tim. 1.9. Who hath ſaved us and called us with an holy calling; not according to our works, but according to his own purpoſe and grace, &c. Vocation is an act of Gods grace wholly.
Secondly, Men are invited to the great Supper of the Goſpel, that is, to Fellowſhip and Communion with Chriſt. 1 Cor. 1.9. God is faithful by whom you were called unto the fellowſhip of his Son Jeſus Chriſt our Lord.
If you look unto the perſons that are invited to the great Supper. Luke 14.16. Matth. 22.1, 2, 3. [that great Supper is nothing but Communion and Fellowſhip with Chriſt] thoſe that are invited. Matth. 22.3. are ſaid to be called. He ſent forth his ſervants to call them that were bidden to the Supper. And of thoſe that refuſed to come, it is ſaid, Many are called, but few are choſen, v. 14.
OnelyOnly this Invitation to Communion and Fellowſhip with Chriſt, is to be conſidered two ways. Firſt, Meerly and barely, as it is an act of God inviting by the Word. Or ſecondly, As it implies our anſwer or conſent to that Invitation. As when a man is called to an Office either in Church or State, he is ſaid to be called, though he does not accept of it; but when election and voluntary acceptation meet together, then there is a call. So our heavenly Call, taking it in a large ſenſe: All that live under the Goſpel are called, and invited. But in a proper and ſtrict ſenſe men are ſaid to be called onelyonly, when they accept, and conſent upon Gods Invitation. This diſtinction is very neceſſary: For Matth. 22.14 it is ſaid, Many are called, but few are choſen. And Rom 8.30. it is ſaid expreſly, That whom he hath, predeſtinated, them he alſo called, and whom he called, them he alſo juſtified. If thoſe that are called, are predeſtinated and juſtified, how is it true, That many are called, and few are choſen? I anſwer, Taking Calling in a large ſenſe, for a bare Invitation, many are called. Taking Calling in a ſtrict ſenſe; as implying our anſwer, and acceptation, and conſent thereto; ſo none are called but thoſe that accept the Call, and are brought home to God. Gods Calling is an effectual Invitation of a perſon to the great Supper of the Goſpel, whereby a man does accept it, and is brought home to God.
Secondly, How does it appear, That when God brings home a man to himſelf, he does it in a way of calling; and why ſo? I anſwer, If our Converſion be called our calling; and the Saints are deſcribed by their calling: The thing is true; Make your calling and election ſure, 2 Pet. 1.10. that is your Converſion. Rom. 1.6 7. Among whom alſo are ye the called of God, Called to be Saints. So 1 Cor. 1.2. Saints by Calling. If the Saints and people of God be deſcribed by the Called-ones, and our Converſion be termed our Calling; Then when God brings home a man to himſelf, he does it in a way of Calling.
Firſt, Becauſe thoſe that God brings home to himſelf, are afar off. We call men that are afar off: If they be near, we ſpeak to them. By nature we are afar off from God; therefore when he converts men, he is ſaid to call. Acts 2.14.39. Peter ſtanding up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and ſaid to them, Ye men of Judea, &c. hearken to my words, v. 14. For the promiſe is to you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even to as many as the Lord our God ſhall call, v. 39. Called upon this account, becauſe ye are afar off.
Secondly, Is it not neceſſary that we ſhould be conformed to Chriſt our Head, and to Abraham our Father, the father of the faithful? You ſhall find Abraham was called Iſa. 51.2. Look unto Abraham your father, &c. for I called him alone. Chriſt is alſo ſaid to be called in a way ſuitable to him. Mat. 2.15. Out of Egypt have I called my ſon. Heb. 5.4. No man taketh this honour unto himſelf, but he that was called of God, as was Aaron. Iſa. 4.26. I the Lord have called thee in righteouſneſs, &c. Iſa. 49.1. Liſten, O iſles unto me, &c. The Lord hath called me from the womb. We are to be conformable to Chriſt our Head, and to Abraham our Father in our calling.
Thirdly, If God ſhall bring a man home to himſelf, according to the practice of men, he muſt bring him home in a way of calling. I drew them with the cords of a man, Hoſ. 11.4. When God deals with man, it is in a way ſuitable to man: But why? When he brings a man home to himſelf, will he do it in a way of calling, when as he might do it immediately by his own infinite power? If I knew that a man would not accept my Invitation to Dinner, I would never ſend to invite him. God knows that every one will not come, what need he then ſtand calling and inviting? We muſt conſider, That as God will deal with man in the way, and according to the manner of men; So he will deal with man alſo in the way of God too. Chriſt is God-man. God manifeſted in the fleſh, 1 Tim. 3.6. Becauſe the work of our Redemption was to be carried on by the hand of God, and by the hand of man both. Whereas ſhould God deal with man only as God, then he would convert him preſently by his own infinite po…er, and never make any invitation to him: And if he ſhould deal with man onelyonly as man, he would never invite any of the dead: For who is there of you that will ſend to the grave, and invite a dead man to your table? But as God, he invites dead ones. There are ſome that think Chriſt need not to invite, becauſe he can bring men home to himſelf by his own almighty power: But ſuch do forget that the Deity works as a man. Others think men are to be converted onelyonly by moral ſwaſions and perſwaſions: Such do forget that Chriſt works as God too. But Chriſt i… God man becauſe the great work of our Redemption and Salvation, is to be carried on by the hand of both. As God, he does invite and call irreſiſtably, omnipotently: As man, he invites by perſwaſion: As God-man, he invites, and gives a heart to accept of his invitation.
Fourthly, If all thoſe bleſſings and mercies we are call'd to, are called Gods bleſſings and mercies (as ſo they are, Who ha's called us out of darkneſs into his marvellous light, 1 Pet. 2 9. Who hath called us to his Kingdom and Glory) it were preſumption in me to meddle with the things of God, with the things that are Gods, if he did not invite me to it: But if a Begger comes to your houſe, and ſhall ſit down at your table; he does not preſume, becauſe you have invited him. God will have his people know, that they do not preſume when they come at his Invitation, and call and meddle with the things of God.
Fifthly, If all the work of Chriſtianity be beſtrewed with difficulty, and affliction; we had need be called thereunto; for in the time of affliction or difficulty, what ſhall bear up our heart, and carry us through, but Gods Call: Gods Call is our Warrant, and our ſtrength, therefore fit that all that are brought home to God, it ſhould be in a way of Calling.
Thirdly, What is the duty (then) of all that are called to Gods Kingdom and Glory?
I anſwer; It is their duty to walk worthy of God. By worthy is not meant a worthineſs of Merit. No; There is a four-fold Worthineſs mentioned in Scripture.
Firſt, In regard of Merit; So onelyonly Chriſt is worthy. For thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the ſeals, Rev. 5.9.
Secondly, In regard of Acceptation; So the Saints are worthy. They ſhall walk with me in white, for they are worthy, Rev. 3.4.
Thirdly, In regard of Proportion; So Our preſent afflictions are not worthy to be compared with the glory that ſhall be revealed, 2 Cor. 4.17. That is, there is no proportion between the glory of Heaven, and the afflictions we meet with here below.
Fourthly, In regard of meetneſs, ſuitableneſs, and fitneſs. Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance, Mat. 3.8. And thus it is the duty of all that are called, to walk worthy of God, &c.
Reaſon. 1. Becauſe Dignity calls for Duty; and the more Dignity, the more Duty: What greater Dignity, then to be called to Gods Kingdom and glory?
Secondly, The more ſad and diſmal any mans condition is, the more he is obliged and engaged, and bound to God, to walk worthy and anſwerably to God who hath called him out of that condition, The condition we are call'd out of, is a condition of great darkneſs: For that is great darkneſs a man is in, which he cannot riſe out of, nor lie ſtill in! This is our condition; we can neither riſe out of it of our ſelves, nor lye ſtill in it. Therefore ariſe from the dead, and Chriſt ſhall give thee light, Eph. 5.14.
Thirdly, The more comfortable and glorious the condition is that a man is called unto, the more he is engaged to God, who hath called him to that condition. What is good in all the world, or deſireable, but we are called to it, in this being called to his Kingdom and Glory. Is light deſireable? We are called out of darkneſs into his marvellous light. Is Holineſs deſireable? God hath not called us to uncleanneſs, but unto holineſs, 1 Theſ. 4.7. Is Peace deſireable? We are called to Peace, 1 Cor. 7 5. Is Communion and Fellowſhip with Chriſt deſireable? We are called to that, 1 Cor. 1.9. God is faithful by whom ye are called to fellowſhip with his Son Jeſus Chriſt our Lord Is the Kingdom of God and his Glory deſireable? The Text ſays, We are called to his Kingdom and Glory. What is deſireable, that by our Vocation we are not called unto!
But may not theſe be loſt? No.
The Gifts and Calling of God are without Repentance. The Gifts of the Creation was not without Repentance. God repented that he had made man, Gen. 6.6. But the Gift of effectual Calling is without Repentance; Therefore the more obliged to God for calling; and therefore our duty to walk worthy of our Calling.
Fourthly, The more dangerous it is to refuſe the Call of God; The more mercy it is to be called: And the more obliged we are to walk worthy of God who hath ſo called us. Prov. 1.24. Becauſe I called, and ye refuſed, I will alſo laugh at your calamity, &c. But that I would have you conſider, in the Two and twentieth of Matthew, and the firſt Verſe. If you mark the Parable, you will find three Threes run Parallel one with another. Firſt, Three Invitations, Verſe the third. He ſent forth his ſervants to call them that were bidden (to the Wedding-feaſt) formerly. Then Verſe the fourth; there is the third Invitation. Again he ſent forth other ſervants, ſaying, Tell them which are bidden, behold, I have prepared my dinner, &c. all things are ready, come to the marriage. Three Refuſals run parallel with theſe three Invitations: At the third Verſe; They that were bidden formerly, at the ſecond time of the ſervants being ſent to call them, would not come. And again, Verſe the fourth; He ſent forth other ſervants, ſaying, Tell them which are bidden, behold all things are ready, come to the Marriage; but they made light of it. Verſe the fifth (there is the third Invitation) And the remnant took his ſervants, and intreated them spitefully, and ſlew them, Verſe the ſixth. Obſerve three Judgments run Parallel with theſe three Refuſals, Luke 14.24. For it is one and the ſame Parable. In Matth. 22.8. it is ſaid, That when the King heard thereof, he was wroth, and ſaid, The wedding is ready, but they that were bidden were not worthy. And in Luke, I ſay unto you, ſays he, not one of thoſe men that were bidden ſhall taſte of my ſupper. And Verſe the ſeventh, The King ſent forth his armies (there is a ſecond Judgment) and deſtroyed theſe murtherers; And burnt up their city, that was a third Judgment. What a dangerous thing is it to refuſe Gods Calling and Invitation! It is a great mercy to be kept from refuſing; and therefore if God calls, and gives us an heart to accept it, it is our duty to walk worthy of his Calling, Worthy of God: Therefore
Fourthly, When may a man be ſaid to be called? And how ſhall I know if I be truly called, or no?
Thoſe that do not live under a Goſpel miniſtry, nor never did, were never called; For God does ordinarily call men by Preaching of the Word. But though men do live under the means of Grace, if they have not a diſpoſition ſuitable, they are not called effectually, though called outwardly. They have not the Wedding-garment; For what is the Wedding-garment, viz A Call to the Wedding-ſupper, to Communion with Chriſt in the Goſpel, and a diſpoſition ſuitable to accept the Call; So that I ſhall know that I am effectually called.
Firſt, if the Lord hath put forth an infinite and an Almighty po…er upon my Soul, conſtraining me to turn from my ſins to God. Do they that are called refuſe, Go out into the high-ways and hedges, ſays the Lord, and compell them to come in, Luke 14.23. When a man can ſay, The love of Chriſt conſtrains me; I can do nothing againſt Chriſt, but for Chriſt: They are effectually called.
Secondly, If you are begotten by the Word of Promiſe, Then you are cal…ed effectually. In Iſaac ſhall thy ſeed be called, Rom. 9.7. How was Iſaac begotten? Not in a way of Nature, but by a word of Promiſe, v. 8.
Thirdly, If you be ſeparated from the world indeed, from the things and perſons of the world, 1 Pet. 2.9. But ye are a choſen generation, a Royal Prieſthood, a peculiar People, an holy Nation, that ye ſhould ſhew forth the praiſes of him that hath call-called you out of darkneſs into his marvellous light.
Fourthly, If there be in you an aptneſs, a readineſs, and a willingneſs to be ruled by the Word in all things, Then are you effectually called. So when Cornelius was called, and Peter came to preach to him, Acts 10.29. We are all preſent, ſays he to Peter, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God. And ſo when Paul was called; Lord, what wilt thou have me to do, ſays he? Acts 9.6.
Fifthly, If you can ſay in truth, That all things work together for your good; Then are you called indeed according to his purpoſe, Rom. 8.28. Not to them that are called outwardly, but to them that are called according to his purpoſe effectually, and truly. Do all things work together for good? Can you ſay, I was under ſuch and ſuch an affliction or temptation, and it wrought together for my good; and under ſuch a diſſertion, and it wrought for my ſpiritual good: Then are you called truly according to his purpoſe.
Sixthly, If you hold forth the praiſes of him that hath called you, Then are you called truly and effectually: For why are you called, but that you ſhould ſhew forth the praiſes, and virtues, of him that hath called you, 1 Pet. 2.9.
If any ſhall complain, I fear I am not effectually called.
Firſt, Becauſe I was firſt wrought upon by afflictions. Thoſe that are truly called, I find are called by the Servants, by the Preachers of the Goſpel.
To this I anſwer; It is true, that God does ordinarily call men effectually by his Miniſters, who are the ſervants he ſends forth; but remember alſo it is ſaid, He ſent forth other ſervants to tell them which were bidden, all things are ready, Come to the marriage, Mat. 22.4. Chriſt ha's other ſervants then theſe his Miniſters; though ordinarily thoſe he truly and effectually calls, it is by theſe. But he ſends other ſervants too; He can give commiſſion to an affliction to bring home ſouls to himſelf. VVhat think you of the Prodigal? Luke 15. VVas not he brought home to his Father by an affliction? Was not Naaman brought home to God by his Leproſie? You will ſay perhaps, theſe were providentially, occaſionally. But what ſay you then to Zacheus? VVas it not a kind of accidental providential Call that he had? And that Chriſt ſhould call Matthew as he paſſed by, and ſaw him ſit at the Receipt of Cuſtom? Waldus the Father of the Waldenſes, he and a company of his friends had ſupped together, and been merry; and as they were returning home, one of them fell down dead in the ſtreet. This was an occaſional means of his Converſion; who was ſo famous a man, and an Inſtrument of converting ſo many Thouſands to the true Religion. But ſhall the Prodigal ſay, I fear my Converſion is not right, becauſe affliction led me firſt home to my Father? Shall Zacheus ſay, It was but an accidental thing that I ran up into the Sycamore-tree, being low of ſtature, and ſo could not elſe have ſeen Jeſus for the preſs, whom I deſired onelyonly out of curioſity to ſee? And therefore I fear my Call was not right. God knows how to make uſe of Contingencies, occaſional Providences, and of your Afflictions, to bring you home to himſelf. And if you be brought home to God by the hand and miniſtry of affliction, that you can ſay as one did, If my Parents had not been undone, I had been undone for ever. Be content then with affliction, and love it the better. Uſually perſons have the greateſt love for that Miniſter that was the firſt inſtrument of their Converſion.
Secondly, If any ſhall ſay, I fear I am not truly nor effectually called, becauſe I do not know the time when I was ſo called; there being ſome that can tell you the very time, and the Sermon, and the particular word in the Sermon that was effectual to their Converſion: But I can give no account of any of theſe.
I anſwer, The Sun when it comes into a Room where the windows have no ſhutters, comes in by degrees; but it comes into a room where the windows have ſhutters, all at once. Where there are the ſhutters of Profaneneſs, Drunkenneſs, Uncleanneſs, and the like, when ſuch men are wrought upon, the ſun comes in all at once. Thoſe that are born of godl… …arents, and have been educated and trained up in a godly Religious way, they are converted; but many times they cannot tell you neither the particular Miniſter, nor the word, nor the time when Converting grace came in upon their ſouls, it came in by degrees; ſhall ſuch ſay therefore they are not truly converted? Suppoſe a man had had the Stone, but had got a Powder, in the uſe of which the Stone does wear out by degrees; ſhall that man ſay, I never had the Stone? becauſe many that are cured of the Stone, it has been by cutting, and with a great deal of pain which I eſcaped, and therefore I never had the Stone. So ſhall I, becauſe I have not had thoſe terrours and troubles of Conſcience that others have felt, argue therefore I am not converted? No, but go and bleſs God that you are converted; That the Stone is wrought out of your heart in a more kindly and gentle way then in others. I ſay, What ſhall I do that I may walk worthy of God? who hath effectually called me, and in ſo ſweet and gentle a way?
Fifthly, What ſhall I do that I may walk worthy of God that hath called me, ſince certainly called I am. I am either called outwardly onelyonly, or effectually. If a man invites me to Dinner, and I do not go, I am yet to carry it anſwerably to his love, in inviting me: Much more, when the Lord ha's called me, and that effectually, it is my duty to walk worthy of God who hath thus called me [I am come into a great and open field, through all theſe precedent Gates, I may proceed to further Particulars hereafter] at preſent only remember, That a man is ſaid to walk worthy of God, when he walks meetly, ſuitably, and anſwerably to that God that hath called him. There are four Expreſſions Biſhop Davenant hath in his Notes upon the Epiſtle to the Coloſſians, that run into this ſame matter. Sometimes a man is ſaid to walk worthy of God: Sometimes of the Lord Chriſt; Sometimes of the Goſpel: Sometimes of the high-calling whereunto he is called. But that I may ſpeak clearly to the Point, I ſhall begin with the firſt of theſe, and ſhew you how a man ſhall walk worthy of God that hath called him to his Kingdom and Glory, that is, ſuitably and anſwerably.
Firſt, Obſerve the Attributes and Excellencies of God, and let them ſhine forth in you, that ſhine forth in him. God is a great God; and if you will walk worthy of this great God, you muſt do ſome great thing for him. Solomon when he would build a Temple for God, ſaid, It muſt be exceeding magnificent, for it was for the great God. It is no great thing to Believe, Love, and Pray, and give Alms to the Poor; but it is a great thing to believe in the face of Impoſſibilities. To love over the head of Injuries; To Pray when ones heart is dead and down; To give Alms to the poor out of but a mite or two, as the widow did; and it is ſaid, She gave more then all the reſt. It is no great matter (ſays one) for a man to do great things; but to do great things, and to think himſelf Nothing; this is a great matter. If you will walk worthy of God, do ſome great thing for God.
Secondly, As God is a great God; So he is a Sovereign Lord, abſolutely free, and is determined by nothing from without, but himſelf, but onelyonly of his own counſels; Therefore if you will walk worthy of God, what is the thing wherein his good Pleaſure lies? Labour to know that: And not onelyonly to do the thing he commands, but ſerve the good pleaſure of God. Be ye more gracious, becauſe God is ſo freely gracious.
Thirdly, God is infinitely holy, therefore it is not ſaid, Almighty, almighty, almighty, nor Great, great, great, but Holy, holy, holy; becauſe God looks upon Holineſs as his greateſt Excellency: So muſt you, if you will walk worthy of God, and be holy as he is holy, in all manner of Converſation, 1 Pet. 1.15, 16.
Fourthly, He is a God-All ſufficient, Gen. 17. I am God All-ſufficient, walk before me, and be upright. You give him the honour of his All-ſufficiency, in being upright. When you ſtep out from God, to fetch relief ſome where elſe, you diſhonour God: Is it becauſe there is no God in Iſrael, that you go out to the god of Ekron?
Fifthly, He is a faithful God. His faithfulneſs is twice repeated. Faithful is he that hath called you, 1 Theſ. 5.24. God is faithful by whom you were called, 1 Cor. 1.9. Then would you walk worthy of God who hath called you; When ever God makes a promiſe, promiſe your ſelf that thing, becauſe God hath promiſed it; Not becauſe the creature promiſeth it, being big and full of ſecond Cauſes; but when God promiſeth, aſſure your ſelf of it, becauſe God hath promiſed it. This is to walk worthy of God, as he is faithful.
Sixthly, He is our chief good, and our utmoſt end, and therfore in all your affairs you are to begin with him, and to reſt in him, and to be boundleſs and inſatiable in your deſires after him. A world y man makes the world his end; and therefore is inſatiable, thinks he never ha's enough of it, becauſe he makes it his utmoſt end.
Secondly, If you would walk worthy of God, &c. Obſerve what the great deſign of God is in the world, and labour all you can to advance the ſame: The great deſign of God in the world, is to glorifie himſelf in his Son. Now when a man does pray to God, and Chriſt ſhall do the thing for him that he prays for; then the Father is glorified in the Son. John 14.13. Whatever ye ſhall ask in my Name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. And when a man does hear Chriſt, and believe in Chriſt, and obey Chriſt, as ſent of the Father; Then he glorifies God the Father in the Son.
Thirdly, In caſe you have any work to do, firſt go to God before you try other means; it is no great honour to God to come to him in the laſt place, when you have no whether elſe to go, and to truſt God when you can truſt none elſe. But to believe in the face of Impoſſibility, and to love over the head of Injury, and to pray when all is dead and down; This is worthy of God.
Fourthly, Obſerve what that is that hath been your god, and give that to God. Biſhop Babington (who was a good man in his time) obſerves, that the Children of Iſrael did ſacrifice to God that which was the gods of other Nations; and herein they honoured God. If you can give that to God which hath been your God; conſider God the Father gave that to you that was deareſt to him. If you give him that which is deareſt to you, which you have made your God; This is a thing worthy of God, who hath called you to his Kingdom and Glory.
Fifthly, Take heed of ſinning in ſecret, becauſe God ſees you; and be ſure you be much in private duty, for God beholds you: The more I walk in the eye of an All-ſeeing God, the more I walk worthy of God.
Sixthly, In caſe you do, or have received any mercy from God, be not only thankful upon account of a benefit, but praiſe God: There is a great deal of difference between Thankfulneſs and Praiſe. I am thankful to God for a benefit; but I praiſe him for that excellency of God which ſhines forth in that benefit.
Laſtly, Let there be always ſomething of God ſtamped upon all that you do, ſuffer, or enjoy; Do you think that a naked Profeſſion is worthy of God? To pray morning and evening, and never think of God all the day after, is worthy of God? No, but if you will walk worthy of God, ſomething of God ſhould be ſtamped upon all your doings, Sufferings, Company, Converſes, and Enjoyments. How is it with you, as to what you have heard? Obſerve your ſelves; Would you walk worthy of God? You have heard it is the duty of all that are called to his Kingdom and Glory; But Lord, how few are there that walk worthy of God, of the Goſpel, of Chriſt, of that high calling whereunto they are called? Are there not ſome among us that ſit under the Goſpel, that in point of Righteouſneſs live beneath Heathens? That walk contrary to their Profeſſion; Is this to walk worthy of God? Are there not ſome of us, that at the beſt walk in a Legal way, as under a Covenant of Works? Either you are called effectually, or you are not; Called you are outwardly, all of you that live under the Goſpel; If you be not called effectually, the time will come, when you will have this dreadful Queſtion put to you, Friend, how cameſt thou in hither, not having a Wedding-garment? Not having a Goſpel diſpoſition ſuitable to a Goſpel-diſpenſation. If you be called effectually, you are called to a Kingdom. And faithful is he that hath called you, who alſo will do it. OnelyOnly let your converſation be as becometh the Goſpel, worthy of him who hath called you to his Kingdom and Glory.
FINIS.
End of the text · William Bridge, Eight Sermons (1673)