Spiritual Refining, Religious treatise · Section 12 · Sermon 103
SERMON CIII.
Stirring up to ſerious and fixed Meditations upon this Calling, in reſpect of the manner and time of it, and the perſons called.
1 COR. 1. 26.
For ye ſee your Calling (Brethren) how that not many wiſe men after the fleſh, not many mighty, not many noble are called, &c.
THe Apoſtle at the 18. Verſe, begins an excellent diſcourſe about the maner and way which God taketh to convert and ſave men; for whereas the eye of reaſon doth look for ſome Wiſe, Eloquent, and Externally glorious manner; the Apoſtle ſheweth, that God taketh the clean contrary way, by that admirable poſition, verſe 26. to be engraven on all our hearts, and which is of daily uſe, both in Religious and Civil Affairs, The fooliſhneſs of God is wiſer then men; and the weakneſs of God ſtronger then men; the Apoſtle calls the fooliſhneſs and weakneſs of God, that which in humane thoughts and reſpects is ſo: Now he conſiders, that the things of God, which have this outward deſpicable appearance, yet have glorious operations; whereupon the Apoſtle amplifieth this tranſcendent method of God, as in the manner of preaching the Goſpel, ſo in the perſons that are converted thereby, in the Text read: where Firſt, we have the introduction to obſerve. Secondly, The matter to be conſidered. The introduction, For ye ſee your calling; ſome read it imperatively, See and take notice of your calling; which way ſoever you take it, it amounts to this, That Gods calling of men from a ſtate of ſin, to grace, is like Ezekiels waters, that riſe up higher and higher; we may ſtill take notice of ſome more excellent and admirable aggravations in it: The looking upon the Creation, and conſidering of the Creatures, it may juſtly ſtir up men to glorifie the Wiſdom and power of God: But this much more; and that which the Apoſtle doth eſpecially take notice of in this Text is, the perſons whom he hath called, and they are deſcribed, firſt, Negatively, then Poſitively. Negatively, Not many wiſe, not many mighty, not many noble; where he doth not abſolutely deny, no wiſe, no mighty, no great ones; for examples in Scripture are recorded, of ſome few ſuch, but not many: This is a ſerious conſideration, to ſhame and confound all fleſh; Who do not look upon theſe things, as making men happy and glorious? but God overlooketh them all. Now to fix us the more upon this conſideration, he illuſtrates it on the contrary, God hath choſen fooliſh and weak, and baſe things in the world: The Apoſtle in this Argument, makes calling and chooſing all one, becauſe they neceſſarily agree, as the cauſe and effect together, Election and efficacious calling follow one another. Laſtly, the Apoſtle inſtructs us about the end of Gods diſpenſation in all theſe things; and that is twofold; 1. To confound the wiſe, and to bring to nought the mighty things that are. 2. Which is a conſequent of the former, That no fleſh ſhould glory in his preſence; that none may ſay, It was his power, wiſdom, or any humane excellency that did thus advance him, but Gods grace onelyonly. Let us firſt conſider the introduction, You ſee, or, See your calling: And obſerve,
That Gods calling of us, is worthy of many ſerious and fixed meditations.
Its like Tapeſtry folded up, which when opened, makes a glorious ſhew. If Obſerv.the Queen of Sheba had her ſpirit faint within her, with admiration of Solomons wiſdom, how much rather may we, in beholding of the wiſdom and goodneſs of God herein? Our Saviour ſaith, The kingdom of heaven comes not by obſervation, Luke. 17. 10. that is, the excellent works of grace, which are the Kingdom of Heaven; and the Goſpel, which is the inſtrument of theſe; they come not as In reſpect of the inviſibility of it.great Kings and Emperors to a place, with a great deal of pomp and oſtentation, to ſay, Here it comes, and there it goeth; but it is after a ſpiritual and inviſible maner; even as the wind, which ſeemeth to be nothing, we cannot ſee it with the eye, or feel it with the hand, yet it hath mighty and powerful operations: As it was with Chriſt himſelf, he was in a deſpicable form, a worm and no man, accounted amongſt the wicked, when yet he was at the ſame time a glorious and infinite God; but yet becauſe of that outward appearance, they deſpiſed him, Is not this the Carpenters Son; And he was accounted of no reputation: Even ſo it is with the called ones of God, they are ſuch that the world deſpiſeth, contemneth, the learned ones and great ones of the world, they do none of theſe things; not conſidering what rich jewels are in theſe courſe Cabinets: So that as our Saviour ſaith, Bleſſed is he that is not offended at me; ſo alſo, bleſſed is he that is not offended at the way and manner of Gods calling: But now let us go into this Temple, and behold the wonderful works of God. And
Firſt, The grace of God it ſelf in calling any, though never ſo few, is with heart and mouth to be always acknowledged: God who had his onelyonly 1.ſon to delight in, and millions of Angels to ſerve him, that he ſhould call thee ſo poor, ſo weak, ſo inconſiderable, this ſhould ſet thee upon the very pinacle of admiration. How often do you ſee Paul gathering up this manna, and every day, like a true ſpiritual Dives, he fareth deliciouſly upon comfortable meditations, ſometimes the grace of God, ſometimes the riches of his grace, ſometimes the unſearchable riches of his grace: Oh how unexcuſable are the people of God for their unthankfulneſs, dulneſs, and unbelief in this particular! They are not affected to raviſhment with the grace of God calling them, they do not aggravate every meditation, they do not ſet home every thing that may make their ſouls run over, to make them ſay, O Lord, my heart ſuffers violence within me, I can hold no longer; thy love, thy grace in calling me, doth even overwhelm me.
Secondly, The time and ſeaſon when God calls his people, deſerves meditation: Not onelyonly mercies themſelves, but the times and ſeaſons of them, are wiſely ordered 2. Meditate of the time and ſeoſon when God calls.by God: Some God calls in the morning, ſome in the noon, ſome in the evening of their age: And to every one, this grace of God hath its full matter of conſideration; he that is called betimes, he may conſider Gods goodneſs to him ſo early, that God thought on him ſo quickly; he might have gone on and provoked God, carrying guilt and a ſadded conſcience, even to the very grave: He heareth others cry out, O Lord, it troubleth me I loved thee no ſooner; Oh how much time have I loſt! how ſhall I recover and redeem thoſe loſt hours, and loſt days? but as for thee, God inſtructed thee betimes to take heed of ſin: He that is called at the latter end of his days, having the guilt of many ſins upon him, he alſo may be quickned to glorifie God, that he would not deſpiſe him for all his rebellions, that he would not remember all his unkindeneſſes, that ſuch a long and old enemy of his ſhould be taken into favor: yea, at that very time when they have been in full purſuit of their luſts, hath God called them, as it was with Paul, yea, and is to every man; When, Lord, I was thinking and working evil againſt thee, thou waſt preparing good for me; when I, Lord, had no delight, but in my luſts, and thoſe things that did grieve thy ſpirit, even then thy thoughts of kindeneſs were to me: Oh think on theſe things! what, is there nothing but your children, your husbands, your wives, your temporal mercies to be delighted in? Yes, that grace of God calling thee ſhould poſſeſs thy whole man.
Thirdly, The perſons whom God calleth: They afford many conſiderations; As3. The perſons God cal…ls. I, The meaneſt.
Firſt, They are the meaneſt in outward condition: If you read the Evangeliſts, you ſhall finde, that the greateſt part of perſons called, were of no pomp, no noiſe or fame in the world: Though the material Temple was built of precious ſtone, and excellent wood, and adorned with gold, whereby it was the magnificenteſt wonder in the world; yet there is no ſuch beauty in the ſpiritual Temple of God, in his Church and children: This hath always been objected againſt the ways of Chriſt. Julian objected it, the Papiſts objected it againſt our Martyrs, that ſuffered by their cruel violence: Now God hath delighted to take ſuch a way, not onelyonly in heavenly things, but even in the Government of the world, he hath many times ſhewed ſuch remarkable paſſages: Joſeph a contemptible priſoner, hath his irons taken off, and he is admitted to the greateſt honor in the Land: Moſes, from what contemptible originals, did he ariſe to be the chief Governor of the people; and thus David alſo! So that as God to make himſelf glorious in the outward Government of the world, hath advanced men of no degree; thus he makes heirs to the incorruptible crown of glory, men accounted as dung and off-ſcouring of the world: Take heed then, that as the Phariſees looked for a glorious Meſſias, and that was their ſtumbling block; ſo thou alſo look for the great, and rich, and mighty men of the world, to be as they are, to live as they do, and that prove thy ſpiritual undoing: Oh the wiſdom and goodneſs of God! how unſearchable his ways? thoſe who have ſcarce cloathes to cover their nakedneſs, ſhall have the crown of glory, and the robes of immortality upon them; thoſe who have ſcarce a cottage to live in, ſhall be ſet on thrones of glory; thoſe who are deſpiſed and contemned by men, are highly priſed by God, and loved by Angels: This honor have all the Saints.
Secondly, Conſider alſo, That the perſons called, are many times the worſt of men, great and hainous ſinners: As they are the meaneſt for their external condition, II. The worſt.ſo the worſt for their Moralities, that all the world may be convinced, and ſay, It was not ſuch a mans goodneſs, his ingenuity, his honeſt endeavors, his willing deſires, but God ſpake unto him, while wallowing in hit blood, To live. The Phariſees, who gloried in an external ſtrictneſs, and knew no further then an outward godlineſs, did upon this conſideration, labor to defame Chriſt and his Doctrine, that he kept company with publicans and ſinners; as the Iſraelites murmured that Moſes married a Blackamoor, and as the contemptible and vileſt of men followed David; ſo it was a great ſtumbling block, that Chriſt called great ſinners to repentance, that he rejected the Phariſees, the ſeeming glory of the world. Our Saviour in many places he diſcovers, that prophane and open ſinners, did ſooner obtain the kingdom of heaven, then thoſe civil, moral men; and if you diligently eye Gods way, you ſhall finde it ſtill true, That the rich he ſendeth empty away, and the hungry he fills with good things; that none are further from being effectually called, then ſuch who ſay, They are full, rich, and want nothing; their own righteouſneſs, their own goodneſs, their own ſelf-ſufficiency, is that which beareth up their hearts; and being thus whole in their own apprehenſions, they ſeek out for no phyſitian: Oh its worthy of our ſerious conſideration, to take notice of how many thouſands are forſaken and paſſed over by God, who are perſwaded all is well with them. Deſpairing men are but few to preſuming men, they are like the ſands upon the ſea ſhore; go from one man to another, and you ſhall finde them all contented in themſelves; there are no groans for Chriſt, there are no pantings for a duplicate page duplicate page Saviour; there are no reſtleſs and unquiet complaints of the ſoul, Oh who will eaſe me, who will cloath my nakedneſs, who will ſatisfie my hungry ſoul! Oh that this truth might burn like fire; you that have the beſt thoughts of your ſelves, are, it may be, in the worſt condition; you that have no trouble, deſerve to have the greateſt; you that eat, and drink, and live without any inward checks of conſcience, have the greateſt cauſe to fear and tremble: Oh think, God doth not uſe to call ſuch ſelf-flatterers, ſuch ſelf-righteous men as I am: Who is further from the Kingdom of heaven then I am?
Thirdly, God calleth ſuch men that have the leaſt worldly abilities and ſufficiency; III. The fooliſheſtwhich beſides their external meanneſs, makes them more contemptible; that the Apoſtle meaneth by the following phraſe, Not many wiſe after the fleſh; that is, not ſuch who are indued with Political wiſdom in humane affairs; thoſe that have wiſdom to rule and mannage the affairs of this world, are many times very ignorant fools about heavenly things: The children of this world are wiſer in their generation, then the children of light. ſaid Chriſt, Luke 16. So that as the Apoſtle ſaith about preaching of the Goſpel, We preach not the wiſdom of this world, ſo neither are thoſe who are called, the wiſe men of this world: So that as worldly politicians laugh at the plain ſimplicity of thoſe who truly fear God, and d…e not ſin againſt him for the greateſt advantages in the world; ſo on the other ſide, godly men may pity and bewail ſuch wiſe and conceited men, that can every way promote their own advantages in this life, but yet are wholly ignorant about faith in Chriſt and repentance: Take the choiceſt wits, and the profoundeſt underſtandings that are, about worldly matters, and propound any thing about Regeneration, the work of Grace, and life of Faith, the very babes in Chriſt will underſtand more, and give a better account then they do.
Laſtly, This is no mean thing to obſerve in Gods effectual calling, That he IV. The feweſt.chooſeth the feweſt number of mankinde: As God hath not choſen many wiſe, or many great ones, ſo not many men, comparatively to thoſe millions of men, that he lets alone in the dungeon of their dark luſts: And truly this matter is full of terror, we have cauſe to tremble while we think of it, that ſuch a little flock Chriſt ſhould chooſe to himſelf; that the remnant of mankinde that ſhall be ſaved, ſhould be no more then the remnant after an harveſt or vintage: This our Saviour doth often preſs as a truth, that hath a ſharp edge to enter into every mans conſcience; if any thing in the world may ſtartle thee out of thy ſecurity, it muſt be this, That few are choſen, God hath effectually called but a very little handful of men to eternal glory: You that make multitude an argument for your evil ways, and think its good to ſay, The moſt do this, the greateſt part go this way: Oh the Scripture tells you, what will become of moſt men; its not for us preſumptuouſly to pry into the ſecret ways of God, neither may we impudently expoſtulate, Why God ſhould leave the greater part of mankinde, in their deſperate and undone eſtate; it is enough for us to acknowledge Gods ſoveraignty herein, with fear and trembling. So then, hath God called but few? how poſſible is it for thee to be none of that ſmall number; but eight perſons were preſerved in the Ark, when all others were drowned by the overflowing waters: Thus we have cauſe to behold the manner of Gods effectual calling of his people.
Uſe therefore of Exhortation, To take notice of the ways of God herein; Uſe.it hath been the Rock that many thouſands have ſplit themſelves at, they have not wiſely conſidered of this: What is the reaſon ſo many preſume of their ſalvation, think its but putting out the hand, and they may when they will take this crown of glory? Why do the greateſt part of men eat and drink in ſecurity, bleſſing themſelves, ſaying, If death comes, if ſickneſs comes, it ſhall go well with them; all is from this, they conſider not that, that God calls but a few, the greater part of men will be damned: This ſhould make thy heart quake for fear; its the Scripture truth, not our ſcare-Crow, you do not love to hear this ſpoken of; but Chriſt thought it fit to reveal it to the world, that the very foundations thereof may ſhake. Again, what is the reaſon ſo many are offended at the condition of godly men; that the ways of God are ſuch a ſtumbling block? They do not rightly conſider of Gods calling, they look that Chriſts Kingdom ſhould be of this world, they expect the wiſdom of the world, the greatneſs of the world, the wealth of the world; and God hath determined a clean contrary way. When John ſent to Chriſt, to know whether he was the Meſſiah or no, he returneth this Anſwer, The blinde are made to ſee, the lame are healed, the poor receive the Goſpel, and bleſſed is he that is not offended at me. Prejudices and carnal cavils againſt godlineſs, are the deſtruction of many thouſands. Now it we will wiſely conſider of Gods calling his people out of ſin, we ſhall attain to theſe notable Inſtructions:
Firſt, We ſhall never judge our ſelves happy by any external greatneſs; and the Summum bonum, which humane wiſdom pitched upon, will be found ſometimes Magnum malum, an hinderance of that which is the greateſt good indeed; yet when will the world be perſwaded otherwiſe? How contrary are Gods thoughts to thy thoughts? how oppoſite are thy apprehenſions, to his purpoſes? He layeth aſide the wiſe things, the great things, the glorious things of the world: Oh you, that have theſe external advantages, fear they be not ſpiritual diſadvantages! Little cauſe there is to boaſt of theſe, if thou kneweſt all; Theſe are the bunches in the Camels back, theſe are the ſnares to thy feet, the milſtones about thy neck: Be then afraid, and think, If I had been poor, and were afflicted, I had been in a more hopeful condition. Diſciples muſt follow Chriſt, and they can beſt follow, who have the leaſt burthens: Oh judge nothing great outwardly, that may make thee little ſpiritually; count thoſe things curſed, that may hinder thee from being bleſſed.
Secondly, Give God the glory of all the grace and ſpiritual mercies that he Uſe.vouchſafeth to thee; For who art thou, and in what to be accounted of, that art called by God? did thy greatneſs procure it? thy goodneſs deſerve it? doth not God all things, to ſtop the mouthes of men, that there may be no boaſting, That none ſhould glory in his preſence? Humility and thankfulneſs is beſeeming a Chriſtian called, nothing doth ſo become him; For what hath he that he hath not received? who hath made him to differ from others, that hapl… had not ſinned againſt God, ſo much as he hath done? And therefore ſhould God be exalted, becauſe this is his very end why he layeth aſide all humane glory, that he himſelf may be magnified.
Thirdly, From hence learn, never to deſpiſe things, becauſe outwardly weak …and vile, no rto be too confident, becauſe they are great and potent; for you ſee its Gods way, To make things that are not, to confound things that are; dead things live, and live things dye; as God put back many of the Iſraelites, when they went to war, they were too many. God in all his mercies, whether of grace or civil things, delights to make himſelf onelyonly known, he will not have his glory taken from him, and given to another: This gives hope in low things, and fear in lofty things.