Gods Glory in Mans Happiness, Tract 1 · Part 25
Gods calling of his ſervants is worth obſerving and looking into.
It is reckoned by the Apoſtle as a ſpeciall priviledge even in Rome, and greater then the freedome of the City, Among whom, Rom. 1.6.ſaith he, yee alſo are the called of Jeſus Chriſt. It is St. Pauls wiſh, that God would give to the Epheſians the Spirit of wiſdome, and enlighten the eyes of their underſtanding, that they might know what is the hope of his calling, Eph. 1.18.and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the Saints. Worth inſpection is this heavenly calling, were it but for Gods ſake, who is the caller. His works contain far more within them, then the outſide promiſes. Nutſhels are but trifles, yet the kernels give contentment to the eater. Oiſterſhels are caſt to the dunghill, yet the fiſh is meat for curious palats. Many men have but little-promiſing countenances, that have deep-reaching underſtandings. The ceremonies of the Law are but trifles to look upon, yet were there deep myſteries contained …nder them. Men judge of works not …o much by the outſide, as by the fame …f the workman. Books are often ſold upon the Authors credit. Gods works …re of ſuch a value, as whatſoever they promiſe at firſt ſight, we are ſure much good matter is to be obſerved in them, …nd from them. Now we are not cal…ed by any mortall Prince, but by the …mmortall God, whoſe ends are often …r different from mortall mens.
Our calling is the more conſiderable becauſe of our former miſery, out of which Gods calling delivers us. So Davids preferment was the greater when he was made a King, becauſe he was taken from following the Ewes with young. Pſal. 78.70, 71, 72. Gen. 32.10.Jacobs two bands were the greater riches, becauſe with his ſtaffe only he went over Jordan. The mercy of the caller is the greater, becauſe of the miſery the called did endure before. Our condition was obſcure before; now it is famous. It was ſervil before; now it is free. It was full of impiety formerly; but now God hath planted piety in us. It was loaden with impiety at firſt; yet now our hearts are ſet upon equity and righteouſneſſe. This promotion of ours cals for the more inſpection, becauſe of the high honour and great riches we are called unto. What greater honour then to be Gods children? What greater riches then the inheritance of the kingdome of heaven? 1 Theſſ. 2.12.Walke worthy of Go… who hath called you unto his kingdom… and glory. Great diſproportion there i… betwixt darkneſſe and light, Eph. 5.8.Ye wer… ſometimes darkneſſe, but now are ye ligh… in the Lord. No leſſe difference between life and death, 1 Joh. 3.14.Yet we know that we have paſſed from death to life. Every man is willing to underſtand his own honours. And we count them but bad husbands that dive not into their own Eſtates, and are ignorant of their own Poſſeſſions. Look then how far ſpirituall honours and treaſures goe beyond temporall, the ſoul beyond the body, immortall poſſeſſions beyond mortall; ſo much the more reaſon have we to pry carefully into our vocation, and all the circumſtances of it, and dependences upon it. Laſtly, conſider we the way which God cals us by, and that is his word. Great is the power of Gods word, and worthy to be lookt into. By it God made the world, and all the creatures in it. By it he brought all things out of nothing. By it he brought light out of darkneſſe. Yet hath Gods word a very different operation in calling of ſinners. The ſame Sermon reclaimes one, and offends another. One man obeyes it, and another reſiſts. This diverſity of operation proceeds not out of the diverſity of the ſoil, for we are all naturally corrupted. But it comes from the aſſiſtance of Gods Spirit joyned to the Preaching of the Word, or reſtrained from it. And are not all theſe things worthy of admiration?
Ʋſe 1 A ſort of ſecure perſons come here to be cenſured, who ſlight Gods choiſe and calling. They never look into the worth nor the price of it. Yet are they wonderfull curious in obſervation of earthly things. They fully underſtand what belongs to their inheritances. There is no corner of their offices unſearched. If new honours be beſtowed upon them, they know quickly how to take ſtate upon them. But although God dayly call men by the myſtery of the Word, yet do they never look into the worth of that heavenly calling. Hence it comes to paſſe that this ſpirituall honour is ſlighted. This is the cauſe why the means of ſalvation is neglected; becauſe men never look into the worth of our vocation. Yet in the mean while worldly ſtudies are embraced: all means of gain and new projects, are attended. Yea ſuch as often end in loſſe, are embraced in hope of gaine, becauſe men enriouſly pry into every hole where worldly profit may hide her ſelf, but neglect to take to peeces and view the ſeverall parts of our divine vocation.
Ʋſe 2 Yet let their careleſneſſe make us the more carefull. Let their negligence make us the more diligent in ſearching the myſteries of our calling. Let us looke into all the parts of it. This is the way to make us thankfull to God that hath called us. This is the way to make us profitable to men that are not yet called. Let us when we look up to God that cals us, remember his greatneſſe. Let us when we look downward to the miſery out of which he hath called us, remember the depth of it. Let us when we look forward to the honour unto which he hath called us, ponder upon the height of it. Let us when we look backward upon the means whereby he hath called us, conſider the ineffectualneſſe of them upon others. So ſhall we finde the totall ſum to be this, That the higheſt God hath called us out of the loweſt degree of miſery to the greateſt ſtep of glory out of his own grace and free mercy.
One thing more ere we leave St. Pauls exhortation, offers it ſelf to our meditation. He bids them not look upon other mens calling, but their own; Look upon your calling. Remember how mean ye were once, and how miſerable, whom God by his calling hath now made ſo high and glorious.