Spiritual Refining, Religious treatise · Section 12 · Sermon 101
SERMON CI.
A further Explanation of the Nature of Effectual calling, by ſhewing from what, and to what God calls us. As alſo, the Epithets the Scripture gives it.
ROM. 8. 30.
Whom he hath predeſtinated, thoſe he hath …ll…d.
THe next thing conſiderable, that will further explain the nature of this Calling, is the Terminus a quo, and Adquem: And this is manifold.Gods people are called: 1. From blindeneſs into light.
Firſt therefore, Gods calling is from a ſtate of blindeneſs and ignorance, into marvellous and wonderful light: As if a man in a dark dungeon, where there was not the leaſt beam of light, ſhould be called out of that to the glorious Sun: Ye were once darkneſs, but now are ye light, ſaith the Apoſtle, Epheſ. 5. 8. yea, its called Marvellous light, 1 Pet. 2. 9. for the wonderful glory and excellency of it: A man without this holy calling, is like hell it ſelf, a place of utter darkneſs. Now the call of God brings a twofold light with it, as you heard; one external, inlightning all without us; and the other internal, inlightning the minde and ſoul of a man.
In darkneſs there is, firſt, Danger of ſtumbling and fall; a man knoweth not where he goeth: Thus, while not effectually called, men are ready to fall into hell every ſtep they take; they ſee not the hell that is open to devour them, they do they know not what. And
Secondly, In darkneſs There is great uncomfortableneſs: The Scripture expreſſeth miſery, and gloomy calamities, under the name of Darkneſs; and certainly the life of every unconverted man, is a very uncomfortable life; for though he may have carnal, tranſient pleaſures, like the blaze of thorns, yet he hath no induring joy: The very name of death and a day of judgement, is like Belſhazzars Hand-writing on the wall to him, it puts him into trembling and quaking: But this effectual calling of God, hath the contrary to theſe, its directive to a mans ſteps; he knoweth how to live, how to dye; he knoweth how to abound, how to want: The word of God being his Counſellor, giveth him wiſe, ſafe, and holy counſel; and hereupon he is never confounded, he is never fallen into the pit, unleſs when he forſakes this light: And then for the ſecond effect of comfort, they are called To rejoyce, and again to rejoyce, Phil. 3. 1. they are called To peace with God, Phil 4. 4. to ſerenity in their own conſciences, like the upper Religion that is not diſturbed by any Meteors; inſomuch, that it is both a ſin, and a great diſhonor unto our holy calling, for a godly man to live in diſcouragements and dejections: Its as if there were not that comfort, that happineſs, that joy in poſſeſſing of God, as the Scripture informs us.
Secondly, We are called from a way of prophaneneſs and ungodlineſs, to live 2. From ungodly to holy lives.pure and holy lives: Thus the Apoſtle, God hath not called us to uncleanneſs, but unto holineſs, 1 Theſſ. 4. 7. By Uncleanneſs, he means any groſs ſins; inſomuch, that none can conclude he is partaker of this Divine Calling, that ſtill walloweth in the filthy luſts of ſin. Oh then what terror ſhould this ſtrike into every prophane man! If I am thus ungodly, I am not effectually called; if not called, I cannot be juſtified, I cannot be glorified: How then dare I live as I do? hath God called me to live like a beaſt? is it not ſaid, That we are Saints by calling, not wicked and ungodly by calling? Oh ſhame and confound thy ſoul; ſaying, Where hath God called thee to lye, to ſwear, to be proud, covetous? it cannot be lamented enough, to ſee how Chriſtians forget the nature of their Holy Calling: Faſten and fix this meditation upon your hearts; how doth this wickedneſs and diſſoluteneſs of mine, conſiſt with my calling? The Apoſtle exhorts, That they would walk worthy of their vocation, Epheſ. 4. 1. do actions beſeeming ſuch an holy, heavenly priviledge; therefore thou ſhouldſt always reflect on thy ſelf, ſaying, How doth this agree with my calling? how doth this become my calling? A man grown up to years, will not ſtill uſe his childiſh tricks, he ſaith, it becomes not his gravity; how much rather mayeſt thou ſay, Such follies, luſts, do not become my Chriſtianity? This is to make my ſelf a monſter, and ſpiritually deformed.
Thirdly, Gods call is from all our former ways of idolatry, ſuperſtition, or falſe 3. From falſe worſhip to true.worſhip, to the pure and commanded worſhip of God: All men by nature are ſaid To walk according to the courſe of this world, Epheſ. 2. 2. but the godly are converted from ſerving their dumb Idols: Thus Abraham, God calls him from his own Land, a place of idolatry, to ſerve him. Gods people are called To come out of Egypt and Babylon, that they might worſhip him according to his own way: The Churches name is Eccleſia, A company called together to ſerve and worſhip God; now who ſhall preſcribe that worſhip, but God himſelf? not the ſervants, but the maſter of the houſe, muſt ſet down the orders to be kept therein; ſo that the pure and ſpiritual worſhipping of God, is one main end of our calling; for God would have a ſelect company out of the world, who ſhould own him, give up themſelves to him, and glorifie him, which is manifeſtly done by a ſincere, pure worſhipping of him: Its ſtrange therefore that people ſhould be no more inquiſitive about Gods pure worſhip, wherein it conſiſts; not to dote upon, or affect cuſtoms and traditions of worſhip, but to look for the inſtitution and command of God.
Fourthly, Its a call out of the world, and all things therein, to the enjoyment 4. Out of the world, to enjoy God.of God, and applying our ſelves onelyonly to him: And herein lyeth the excellency of this call. All the world lyeth in wickedneſs, their principles, actions and ends are all wicked; now God calls us out of this Sodom, out of this Egyptian darkneſs, to enjoy him. Hence pure Religion is ſaid to be, In keeping a man unſpotted from the world, James 1. 27. that expreſſion denotes, That the world, and worldly things are like pitch, there is a readineſs to defile, to pollute; and a godly man labors to keep his garments clean: So the Apoſtle exhorts, That we ſhould not be conformed to the faſhion of the world, but transformed through the renewing of the minde, that we may know what is the good and acceptable will of God, Rom. 12 2. And thus the world and the Church are two diſtinct, oppoſite things; its therefore defined to be Coetus evocatorum, A company called out of the world: Though we be men made of the earth, yet our Chriſtian being is by a Divine call and power: As precious ſtones, though their materials are of the earth, yet the precious nature they have, is onelyonly from the heavens; as the clouds, though they be vapors ariſing from the earth, yet they fly up to heaven, and follow the motions thereof: So it is here, The people of God, though conſiſting of fleſh and blood, and living an animal life, as others, yet they have a ſpiritual life; inſomuch, that though they live in the world, yet they are not of the world: So that our calling is not onelyonly from groſs foul ſins, but alſo from immoderate and inordinate affections, even to lawful things; called therefore An heavenly calling, becauſe its from heaven, and lifteth up to heaven. Hence the godly have their converſation in heaven, Phil. 3. 20. heaven, and not the world, is that Corporation and City they are of; they live by the Laws of heaven, not the world; their comforts are heavenly comforts, not earthly; their priviledges are heavenly priviledges, not worldly. Art thou effectually called? herein it will diſcover it ſelf, if thy heart and affections be ſet on heavenly things, where God and Chriſt are, who are the beloved of thy ſoul: Its not enough to caſt off all the noiſom rags and menſtrous cloathes of impiety, but to throw away all burthens, and any heavy weight that may hinder thee in thy race to heaven: The Apoſtle ſuppoſeth this, when he preſcribes us ſuch a ſpare dyet upon theſe things: They that marry, muſt be as if they married not, 1 Cor. 7. ſo they that buy, and have the world: God hath called you to look upwards; and as man cannot at the ſame time look with one eye up to heaven, and another towards the earth; ſo neither can a man have his heart towards God, and alſo towards the world: Live not then, as if thy ſoul were made of duſt, as well as thy body, as if thou wert a worm in this ſenſe; for feeding on the earth, as well as for contemptibleneſs: The Devil feeding on the duſt of the earth, is the Devil poſſeſſing earthly men. Conſider, that God hath called you to injoy himſelf, to be made one with Chriſt, and to have communion and fellowſhip with him: Oh how ſhould this ſunne put out the ſtars; this Manna, that Garlike.
Fifthly, This calling is from a ſtate of quietneſs and ſecurity in the world, to a 5. From a ſtate of quietneſs, to a ſtate of affliction.ſtate of trouble and affliction: The very calling of a Chriſtian, is accompanied with many oppoſitions and ſufferings, which formerly he was not uſed unto; and herein our Saviour dealt very faithfully, when he invited men to come unto him, He bid them prepare for the croſs, for all evil-intreating in the world: The world loves his own, but it will hate thoſe that are Chriſts; and again, He that will be his diſciple, muſt take up his croſs, and follow him; this Chriſt admoniſheth aforehand: That as the Devil inticeth by the preſent pleaſures, but concealeth the future miſeries; Chriſt doth take a contrary way, he revealeth the future glory and happineſs, but doth alſo inſtruct them concerning the preſent afflictions and troubles they ſhall have in this world; ſo then, ſad and grievous exerciſes they muſt look for: The Apoſtle Peter ſpeaks excellently to this purpoſe, 1 Pet. 2. where laying down admirable directions about ſufferings, that it muſt not be for any fault or imprudence in our ſelves, but meerly out of conſcience to God, ſo that we ſuffer wrongfully in all we ſuffer; he tells them, This is acceptable unto God; And hereunto we are called; obſerve that, to unjuſt and wrongful ſufferings he is called: The Scripture uſeth an equivalent phraſe, Hereunto you were appointed; yea, God from all eternity did predeſtinate us to be conformable unto Chriſt in his ſufferings; therefore as our Saviour ſaith, Let every one that ſets out againſt the world and the Devil in Chriſts name, that will take up his profeſſion, let him firſt conſider, what he can do; Can he leave all, forſake all, deny all, and part with every dearly beloved object for Chriſts ſake? then he may take much comfort: The Hypocrite, the temporary Believer; he proveth an unfaithful Apoſtate, becauſe of this, he did not forecaſt what he ſhould do, when the ſcorching heat of the Sun ſhould ariſe; and this made our Saviour even refuſe the offer, that ſome tendred to be Diſciples, following of him, becauſe he knew what unſted faſtneſs and unfaithfulneſs was in their heart. Now as this hath ſome diſheartning in it, that while we lived ſlaves to our luſts, all things were quiet, and we lived ſecure lives; but ſince we gave up our ſelves to God, every thing hath riſen up againſt us, we have procured an univerſal odium: I ſay, though this may diſcourage, yet in that the Scripture ſaith, we are called to it, it denoteth, That theſe things come by the gracious providence of a merciful father; and that where he calls, he gives alſo ſtrength and proportionable abilities: ſo that the very expreſſion, To be called to trouble in this world, hath much ſweetneſs. and hopeful incouragement in it. And
Laſtly, This holy calling is from a ſtate of danger and miſery, to a ſtate of bleſſedneſs 6. From an eſtate of miſery, to a ſtate of bleſſedneſs.and happines: God doth not only call us out of the ſinfulnes of the world, but alſo all that wrath and vengeance which is prepared for men of the world. As Lot, you heard, was called out of Sodom, or as Noah was called into the Ark, when the waves of water did overwhelm others: Thus God he calls his people from that fire and brimſtone, and from that deluge of fury, which is to fal upon others: ſo ſome make this expreſſion of calling to be a metaphor or alluſion, to one that calleth such a man to come out of an houſe, when the main pillars are ready to break in pieces. Oh then, never think much to be called out of this Egypt, this Babylon; for its Gods mercy to thee, when thou ſhalt ſee the beams fall upon others, the fire and brimſtone burn others, and thou eſcape; this muſt needs fill thee with much aſtoniſhment and joy: Stand not then conſulting, How ſhall I part with theſe pleaſures, theſe profits? How ſhall I depart from the cuſtom of evil doing? for its a mercy to be ſnatched from them: Oh ſay rather, How can I indure thoſe everlaſting burnings?
In the next place, let us conſider, what Epithets or Properties the Scripture gives this calling. AndWhat Epithets or Properties the Scripture gives this calling. 1.
Firſt, Its a calling according to his purpoſe, and his good pleaſure, as here in this Chapter: And this denoteth, That God doth not foreſee any merit, or any motive in us, but its meerly of his pleaſure; therefore its in the paſſive ſenſe, we are called, viz. By God; its never ſaid, We call our ſelves; and withal, it being a calling according to Gods purpoſe, it ſuppoſeth the ſure and powerful efficacy of it: God cannot be diſappointed in his purpoſe, The counſel of the Lord will ſtand; ſo that all this debaſeth man, makes him an impotent and undone man to all eternity, if God help not: Oh then let this take thee up, as it were, into the third heavens, let it mightily rejoyce thy heart, who hath had this compaſſion and pity on thee: Alas! God from all eternity had a purpoſe to be thus gracious unto thee; when thou hadſt no being at all, long before the foundations of the world were laid, God had thoughts of love and kindeneſs to thee, when thou couldſt not deſire or beg for ſuch a mercy: Its no wonder that Paul doth often run out in large expreſſions concerning Gods Love, his Predeſtination from all eternity, when he hath occaſion to praiſe God for the calling and converſion of any in time; for this is to trace the ſtream, till we finde the well-head: This is, as it was with Ezekiels waters, to go from waters that riſe up to the ankle, at laſt to that which will cover the head: What can then be able to diſcourage the heart of a godly man? what can diſquiet? Here is a Catholicon for all diſeaſes: Art thou afflicted? God hath called thee from all eternity? Art thou deſpiſed by men? God eſteemed of thee from the beginning of the world.
Secondly, Its an holy calling▪ This is a frequent adjective; ſo that there is nothing in this calling, but what comes from an holy God: The matter of it 2.is holy, and the end altogether holy; inſomuch, that all prophane, ungodly men ſhould bluſh to own this profeſſion: Thou art called to be a Saint, to be in the world, as a bright ſtar in a dark night; But, is to be proud, covetous, prophane, malicious? is this to be a Saint? Oh how ſhould our bowels rowl within us, to ſee how God is diſhonored, his Laws are broken, and that by thoſe, who glory in the call of a Chriſtian! Oh let not ſuch groſs ſins be any more practiſed or named among you! As in the Temple, every veſſel was holy, ſo every part of thy ſoul and body ſhall be holy; an holy minde, holy thoughts, holy affections, holy eyes an holy tongue, an holy body: Thy calling being thus an holy calling, all within thee, and all that floweth from thee, ſhould alſo be holy.
Thirdly, Its an heavenly calling: Whether you do regard the efficient cauſe, 3.God from heaven calls to theſe dry bones to live; if the matter of it, it is to be heavenly in our converſations; to go through this world as pilgrims, to be as the fowls of the heaven, which though they pitch upon the ground for their food, yet they preſently fly up to heaven: The priviledges are heavenly, pardon of ſin, aſſurance of Gods favor, increaſe in grace, communion with God, and enjoying of God in heaven for ever. We ſee how David prized being ſon in Law to a King: There are callings to great outward glory in this world; but God vouchſafeth a greater mercy to thoſe who have this heavenly calling.
Fourthly, Its an high calling, Phil. 3. 14. The Apoſtle there compareth himſelf 4.in the progreſs of Chriſtianity, to one ſtriving and running in a race; there ſhould be no dulneſs no weariſomneſs in this way: now as in thoſe race, they who judged ſate in an high place, and by an Herald called out every man to run; ſo he ſaith, God from heaven calls out every man to make haſte in this way of godlineſs; ſo that thou art to hear him from heaven, calling thee to preſs forward, to think nothing is yet done, as long as ſo much remaineth behinde; and if they were ſo earneſt for a corruptible crown, how much rather ſhould we for an incorruptible?
Laſtly, Its a calling diſpenſod in a very contrary way to humane expectation; which makes that Doctrine of Congrua vocatio to fall to the ground: You ſee 5.your calling (ſaith Paul) not many wiſe, not many noble are called, but he hath called the fooliſh ana w…ak things of the world, to confound the wiſe: Herein God 1 Cor. 1. 26.hath manifeſted his dreadful power, and glorious wiſdom; It hath not been of him that runneth, or willeth, but of him that calleth, that ſo there might be no glorying or boaſting in the arm of fleſh: If you conſider who they are that God hath called in all ages, they have not been the learned men, the great men, the wiſe men of the world, but the poor and the contemptible; ſome, indeed, there have been, therefore he ſaith, Not many, which implyeth ſome: Julian objected againſt the Chriſtian Religion, That they were Maids and Nurſes, and Eunuchs, and ſuch contemptible perſons that were Chriſtians; not conſidering that God doth not call according to outward appearance.
Uſe of Admonition; Let all thoſe particular terms from which, and to which in this calling, be ſo many vehement motives and ſtrong goads to obey this call. Doth God call thee to thy loſſe? Doth he offer thee any wrong, when he invites thee? He cals thee from a dungeon to a Palace, from hell to Heaven, from ſlavery to liberty, and yet wilt thou refuſe? Oh thou art a man of no reaſon, no conſideration, no faith, elſe thy heart would eccho preſently to Gods Call! Oh conſider that as God hath this gracious call inviting thee; ſo he hath dreadful terrible cals for thoſe that refuſe him! The Scripture tels of Gods calling for a Famine, of his calling for a Sword; God cals for Judgements as well as for Mercies; He that cals thee now graciouſly, will one day call to the devils to torment, to the flames of hell eternally to ſcorch thee.