Gods Call from Heaven Echoed, Part 1 · Chapter 8
CHAP. VIII. VII. The Concomitants, Effects, Conſequences of Effectual calling.
1. LIfe: The firſt thing that followeth upon S. 1 Effectual calling is Life; thereby a Man or Woman is made alive Spiritually. This my Luke 15. 24.Son was dead, but is now alive, ſaith the Father of the Prodigal; how excellent and deſirable is natural life to us, ſo that we are loth to part with it; as one ſaid when his Phyſitian brought him the meſſage of death; Oh let me live, though it be but the life of a Toad under a Sill: If the life of nature be ſo ſweet, how much ſweeter then is the life of grace; natural inſpirations have their expirations: but Spiritual breath can never be totally ſtopped; the Earthly life may be terminated, but the Spiritual cannot; a life of vegetation, which Plants have, is ſomething; a life of ſence, which Beaſts have, is more; a life of reaſon, which Men have, tranſcendeth the other; but a life of grace, which Saints have, tranſcends them all: A living Dog Eccleſ 9. 4.is better than a dead Lion: A Flie, becauſe it hath life, is more excellent than the glorious and ſhining body of the Sun; when good old Jacob heard news of his Joſeph, it was a comforting cordial to him, and reviving of his Spirits: It is enough, Joſeph my Son is yet alive: So Gen. 45. 28.ſaith a gracious Heart, The Lines are fallen to me in pleaſant places, I have a goodly Heritage: I am alive through the quickening grace of Epheſ. 2. 1.God, pleaſures, ſin, world, vanity, away, be gone; it is enough, I have enough; Oh bleſſed be the Lord that hath redeemed me from the grave; I was alive once in thought, I am alive now in truth; I was alive to my own ſeeming, I am alive to my Souls ſaving; ſin lived, and I was dead; ſin is dead, and I am alive; there is joy at Mans coming into the world, ſorrow at his going out; ſo delightful is life, ſo dolorous are the thoughts of death; thoſe that are effectually called are born never to die; and how can they be but alive who come to Chriſt, who is life it ſelf, as he is the true light to enlighten, ſo the true life to enliven the Soul; if the touch of dead Eliſha's bones could make 2 Kings 13. 21.alive, how much more then the touch of a living Chriſt? All Saints are as the Children of light, ſo of life. Chriſt ſaid, Ye will not come unto me that ye might have life. John 5. 40. Then thoſe that come to him, have life from him: He that believeth on the Son hath everlaſting life. John 3. 36. He hath that life begun which ſhall be ever. God hath breathed the breath of life into ſuch; they then muſt needs be living Souls. Such live a noble, Heavenly, compleat raiſed life; we may ſay of ſuch as David, Lord thou haſt made them little lower than the Angels, and haſt crowned them with glory and honour. Pſal. 8. 5. Natures life is not Non eſt res magna vivere. Sen.to be compared with this.
The voice of Chriſt is quickening; for he ſaith, the houre is coming, and now is, when the dead ſhal hear the voice of the Son of God; and they that hear ſhall live; Chriſt hath called and cauſed thee to hear, and thou doeſt live; to be in the Land of the Spiritually living is no ſmall matter.
2. Liberty: All that are effectually called, S. 2 have this effect of their calling, that they are ſet at liberty▪ Liberty is that we all crave; liberty is that which onelyonly Saints have. It is every ones Prayer, onelyonly the Saints priviledge; not a liberty to ſin do I ſpeak of, but a liberty from ſin; not a liberty from good, but to good: Conſcientia libera inquantum liberata à peccato.ſuch onelyonly have the true liberty of conſcience, which many miſſe of while they muſe on it; to do what we would is not Freedom, but ſervitude; to do what God would, is the Freedom that belongs to the Citizens of the Heavenly corporation, the City of God, the Church of God; a natural Man is a Vaſſal, a Slave to the tyranny of his luſts and ſin: but a Saint is free from ſin, from the penalty, and from the power of it; from it's Domination, though not it's Inhabitation; free from it in affection, Med. Ameſ. lib. 1. cap. 27. Theſ. 21. v.though not in Action; free from Hell alſo, though not from the deſert, yet from the death of Hell; free from the Law, in regard of juſtification, though not in regard of ſanctification; free from the condemnation, though not from the commination of the Law; and can it be otherwiſe with them who are in Chriſt? he makes all his, Free-men, Free-women: If the Son ſhall make you free, ye ſhall be free indeed. John 8. 36. This Freedom is of an excellent nature; one told a certain people once that if they knew what a Jewel liberty were, they would not part with it for all the Riches of Perſia; what a Pearl then is this liberty? Now may a Man or Woman ſay, as they in Pſal. 124. 7. Our Soul is eſcaped as a Bird out of the ſnare of the Fowlers; the ſnare is broken and we are eſcaped: How glad is a converted Man, or Woman, with Joſeph, that they are out of Priſon, out of the ſtocks? that their ſhackles are undone, their manacles filed off, the Chaines of their captivity looſed, and their Souls ſet in a large place; ſuch may ſay with David in Pſal. 4. 1. Thou haſt enlarged me when I was in diſtreſſe: Thou didſt viſit me when I was in Priſon, and redeeme me when I was a Galley-Slave. Galat. 5. 13. Ye have been called unto liberty: What contendings, what pleadings, what ſtrivings in the world for liberty, till people Liber eſt aeſtimandus, qui nulli turpitudini ſervit. Cic.bring themſelves into bondage again? It is in truth, and indeed; in Chriſt, in grace. The Soul that knows what ſin is cannot but exceedingly rejoyce at its redemption; and keep Holy-day in remembrance of its deliverance from Egypt, and the Houſe of bondage; and ſing ſongs of praiſe to that God, that Chriſt, that Spirit, whoſe hand brought it out of thrall; here is Freedom, yet ſervice; but the ſervice is no diminution, or leſſening of the Freedom; for it is ſuch ſervice as is not in the world: It is liberty to the fall, to the heigth.
3. Fellowſhip with Chriſt: All that are called S. 3 are called to this: By whom ye are called unto 1 Cor. 1. 9.the fellowſhip of his Son Jeſus Chriſt: What an high dignity is this that poor Worms, duſt, and aſhes ſhould be advanced to communion with Chriſt? How do Men of parts, and greatneſs, who converſe with the ſages, and honourable ones of the world think themſelves to move in a higher ſpheare and orbe than others; How much then is that Man advanced to a condition above others, whoſe converſe is with Chriſt, who is full of wiſedom and glory? converted ones have Fellowſhip with Chriſt in a moral ſence as one Friend converſeth with another; or with any delightful and ſuitable object; they ſpeak to Chriſt by ſupplication, Chriſt ſpeakes to them by Predication, by Preaching inward and outward; though Chriſt and they be as far diſtant from each others, as Heaven is from Earth, yet is their converſation Phil. 3. 20.in Heaven with him; as the Queen of Sheba 1 Kings 10.had communion with Wiſe Solomon, by queſtions to him, and anſwers from him; ſo hath the Soul of a Saint with the true Solomon Jeſus Chriſt, who is the wiſedom of the Father; Faith and deſire are the feet of the Soul, which bring it from far into the preſence of Chriſt, and when there, it ſits down at his feet, to hear his wiſe ſayings, and with humility and modeſty to propound the caſes of its tender conſcience, and with admiration ſaith as ſhe, Happy is my Soul, happy are all thy Servants which ſtand Verſe 8.continually before thee, and that hear thy wiſedom; the Soul is carried up to Heaven in the fiery chariot of zealous and fervent Meditation, and with Chriſts gracious leave ſits down by his Right hand, and talkes with him of all its ſins, and all his loves; of all its miſcarriages, of his peereleſſe mercy, of its meaneneſs, and inſufficiency; of his merit and all ſufficiency; of its deſert of Hell, and his deſire to ſave it; of its perverſeneſſe, of his patience; of it's frowardneſſe, of his forwardneſſe; of its ſtanding out rebelliouſly againſt him, when time was of his coming into it powerfully, yet ſweetly in converſion; and thus goeth on till ſilenced with wonderment; and then Chriſt takes the Soul, and leading it by the hand, ſheweth it all about his banquetting houſe, and diſplayeth Cant. 2. 4, 5.his banner of love over it; openeth his flagons, giveth his Apples to it; ſmileth upon it, unboſomes himſelf; and tells the Soul of his Fathers, and his compact from Eternity for its Salvation, and ſhewes it its name written in Golden Characters upon his never dying, ever yerning heart; ſhewes it the glory of its future manſion; and walkes with it from one end to the other of the ſtreets of the New Jeruſalem, upon the firme pavement of pureſt love; opens the record and roules of Heaven, and ſhewes it it's debts, and ſcores, croſſed with red Lines of his own heart blood; and tells it of his former ſuiting and wooing it, and how he wan upon it's heart; and made it pant and long for him, till it was ſick of love; he tells it of the kindneſſe of it's youth, and of the love, of it's eſpouſals, How it went after him in the wilderneſſe, Jer. 2. 2, 3.in a Land that was not ſown; and left all for his ſake, then it was Holineſſe unto the Lord, and the firſt Fruits of his encreaſe: And ſaith, well done my deareſt ſpouſe, that thou keepeſt thy Garments clean, thine Heart entire for me: And as for thy backſlidings, under which thou laboureſt, over which thou mourneſt, againſt which thou ſtriveſt, I have ſeen them, and will heal them. Thus do Chriſt, and the Soul by the help of his Spirit maintain an Holy Dialogue between them: Oh the ſweet entercourſe and diſcourſe that is between them; that the Soul ſaith, let us build Tabernacles here; what gracious heart doth not dance within at the thoughts of this Fellowſhip? and may not ſay truely my Fellowſhip is with the Father, and with 1 John 1. 3.his Son Jeſus Chriſt? whereas the converſe of the wicked is with their ſins, and ſinners like themſelves; theſe are the ſubject of their thoughts, the Center of their Meditations, and the object of their Souls delight; the drunkard converſeth, and hath Fellowſhip with his Cups, the unclean perſon with effeminate ones; the covetous Man with the World; and every ſinner with his Dalilah, but the Chriſtian with his Chriſt: Then in the next place they have communion with Chriſt, by way of Partnerſhip; as the word ſignifieth that which is common; foreign.and this I think may be called a forenſical, and civil Communion with Chriſt, by way of Analogy and proportion; Chriſt is the Souls; his Divinity, his humanity, his natures, perſon; are the Soules: All Chriſt, all of Chriſt, all in Chriſt, are a believers, for by Faith are they united to him, and made one with him; and ſo muſt partake of the fatneſſe of the true Olive; when it goeth into Chriſts Treaſury, Chriſts Ware-houſe, and ſeeth his ſpotleſneſſe, his Righteouſneſſe, his ſufferings, his death, his Reſurrection, his aſcenſion, ſeſſion at his Fathers Right hand, it may ſay theſe are mine, and common to me with Chriſt: Chriſt is the ſubject of them, and I the object of them; the vertue and benefit of them is for me: And of his fulneſſe do, and ſhall I receive grace for grace. John 1. 16. As Husband, and Wife may challenge an Intereſt mutually in each others perſon and property; ſo may Chriſt and a believing Soul: Oh the happineſs, of a converted Soul; as Ahaſuerus would Eſt. 6. 9.have Haman proclame before Mordecai; ſo may we ſay in this caſe, Thus ſhall it be done to the Man, whom the Lord delighteth to honour with the grace of effectual calling. This is the Company, theſe are the goods that Saints converſe with, that Saints communicate off.
4. Adhering to the truth: This is the fourth S. 4 thing that followeth upon effectual calling: Their hearts being united to Chriſt, cannot but be united to his truths; Becauſe God hath from the beginning choſen you to Salvation, through Sanctification of the Spirit, and belief of the truth; whereunto he called you by our Goſpel. 2 Theſ. 2. 14. Suppoſe this whereunto hath reference unto the whole that went before, Vid. Bez. in loc.then belief of the truth is included: Many Books have it not foreign in the neuter gender, but foreign in the Feminine, and many Latine Books follow this; and ſo then whereunto may referre to truth, or belief: ſo that it is plain that when they were called, and converted by the Goſpel, they were called to the belief of the truth as well as other things: It is a precious mercy, when Soules can ſay with Paul, that through the grace of God, They can do nothing againſt the truth, but for the truth. 2 Cor. 13. 8. This is a great favour at all times, but eſpecially in this age, when there are ſo many backſliders, and Revolters from the truths of God; when others fall, that ſome ſhould ſtand; when others like Weather-cocks turn every way, that ſome ſhould ſtand as firme Pillars in the houſe of their God; when others like Children are toſſed to and fro, and carried about Epheſ. 4. 14.with every wind of Doctrine, that Gods people ſhould ſpeak, and keep to the truth in love; when others are like wandring Planets, that they ſhould be fixed Starres in the Right hand Nimiùm altercando peritas amittitur. Sen.of the Father, when others by vain janglings come to fall off from, and reject the truth, they by humble and ſober inquiries find out, and receive the truth: Chriſt promiſed, that if any do his Fathers will, he ſhall know of the Doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether he ſpeak of himſelf. John 7. 17. It is true of all Doctrine; thoſe that are Doers, are diſcerners; thoſe that are gracious, have that Spirit within them, whereby they know light from darkneſſe, truth from errour, that which is ſound from that which is rotten; and can judge of that which is taught, whether it be Heaven or Earth-born; from God or from Men; that which is chaffe they refuſe, the pure grain they embrace; the droſſe they put away, the maſſy Gold they take to themſelves.
Truth is moſt welcome, and ſweet to them: They receive the truth in the love thereof, affectionately, cordially; they lodge it in their boſomes, and lock it in the Cabinet of their Pſa. 119. 11.heart: Verity is precious with them as well as Sanctity: They have a care to look to the workings of their head as well as the walkings of their feet; a ſinful notion is diſpleaſing to them as well as a ſinful Action; a ſound head and a ſound heart go together; falſe Doctrine and filthy deeds ſhake hands, they can both lie in one Bed: no wonder that they walk looſely, who are not girt about with truth; ungodly Epheſ. 6. 14. Non benè cinctus, non bene dictus.converſation is uſually ſupported by erroneous conceptions: but an heart changed by grace doth not allow it ſelf in ſin, and therefore needeth not to embrace falſe Doctrine for the maintenance thereof: It dareth come to the light and a bide the Trial: Truth is it's right hand, it's guide: It hath bought the truth, as Prov. 23. 23.the Scripture phraſe is, and will not ſell it; It is dear to it, and as Jonathan loved David, ſo it 1 Sam. 18. 1.loveth truth as it's own Soul; It beareth witneſſe, delighteth in, ſpeaketh, and Prayeth for the truth; and with the Martyr can ſay, Though I have not a reaching head to diſpute, yet I have a reſolved heart to die for the truth: It will contend Jude 3.might & main for the truth delivered to the Saints. Its heart riſeth within it to ſee wanton errour in theſe dayes take the Wall of truth: Its Spirit is ſtirred within it to ſee falſe Doctrine ride on Horſe-back, and truth to go on foot, a begging: Thus it is with thoſe whom the Lord hath wrought upon by grace; they were born of truth, they are the Children, Friends of the truth. And wiſedom is, and will be juſtified of Matth. 11. 19.her Children: But as for you who are unconverted; a little matter will divide between you and truth, ſeeing your heart is not ſet upon it.
5. Juſtification: In the next place all that are S. 5 effectually called, are juſtified, and their ſins forgiven; as it is in the Text Verſ. And whom foreign.he called, them he alſo juſtified: There is remiſſion of their ſins, imputations of Chriſts merits: The Lord taketh their filthy Garments, and cauſeth their Iniquity to paſſe from them, Zech. 3. 4.and clotheth them with change of Raiment. Their Rags are taken off, and Robes are put on, and they are clad in the Garments of their elder Brother: It is a ſign of favour from the Knolls Hiſt.Great Turk, when a rich Garment is caſt upon any that come into his preſence: This is a ſpecial favour of God to caſt by the hands of his grace, the rich Scarlet Mantle of Chriſts perfect obedience upon the backes of any; and this he doth onelyonly to his Jedidyah, his beloved one, his called ones: By him all that believe are juſtified from all things, from which they could Acts 13. 39.not be juſtified by the Law of Moſes: Moſes condemneth, Chriſt condoneth; Moſes accuſeth, Chriſt acquitteth; Moſes chargeth, Chriſt diſchargeth all his Saints, all his converts, all his changed choſen-ones: This Jewel is hung upon the ear, this Chain about the neck onelyonly of the regenerate; Chriſt takes to himſelf their Noſtra delicta ſua delicta fuit, ut ſuam juſtitiam noſtram juſtitiam faceret. Aug.unrighteouſneſſe, gives to them his own Righteouſneſſe: but as for you that are in the filth of your ſins, you are yet under the guilt of them; they all ſtand uncroſſed, unpardoned; what a dreadful thing is this, when one, and that the leaſt of your ſins is ſufficient to plunge you into hopeleſſe and helpeleſſe depths of miſery? You that are Saints therefore conſider, what an unſpeakeable mercy and Priviledge this is; to have all thy ſins done away, and caſt behind Gods Back; that he ſhould remember them no more: Your ſins are pardoned, though the Teares of repentance ſtand in your eyes, that you cannot read your Pardon; thou art as perfectly pardoned as ever was Abraham, Iſaac, Jacob, or the Saints of the higheſt forme in Chriſts School, though thou be but an Abcdarian and mean Scholler, if thou beeſt called indeed; all is wiped out in Gods debt Book, that might be brought againſt thee; yea in Am. lib. 1. Med. 27. cap. 24. Theſ. Job 13. 26.ſome ſence, ſins to come; they are forgiven Virtually; a dreadful thing to ſee the hand left of God writing bitter things againſt a Soul; Inprimis for this tranſgreſſion, Item for ſuch a wickedneſs, and ſuch a folly, and ſo on in infinitum to a numberleſſe multitude of Iniquities: but a delightful thing to ſee the Right hand of God daſhing and blotting out all, and ſealing up the Book of Accounts, and claſping it with love, that it ſhall never be opened to the Soules condemnation: what a confounding thing is it to ſee a flying roule with a Catalogue in it of ſins committed, and curſes deſerved? what a comforting thing is it to hear of, and ſee an Act of Oblivion and Indemnity, relating to ones own particular: To conſider how the Lord hath laid the ſins of a Soule upon the true Scapegoate, the Lord Jeſus, to be born away into a Land of forgetfulneſſe: This is a ſingular mercy of the Plural Number, for it containes many mercies in it. It is more worth than all the Crowns and Scepters in the world; and this great, rich, invaluable, pearleful, and peereleſſe mercy goeth hand in hand with effectual calling, they are loving and inſeparable companions: Oh, who now would not prize effectual calling? who would not pray for it for themſelves and theirs? who would not praiſe God for it, who are effectually called? ſince if purified, they are undoubtedly pardoned.
6. Adoption: Thoſe that are effectually called, S. 6 are called to be Children; they are now entertained into Gods Houſe, into his boſome; they are his near Relations; they are his Sons, not onelyonly by Creation, as all are, nor by common Profeſſion, as ſome are, nor by Eternal generation, as onelyonly Chriſt is, but by Spiritual Regeneration, and ſpecial adoption, as his beloved ones, as his believing ones are: But as foreign.many as received him, to them gave he power, or Priviledge, to become the Sons of God; even to them that believe on his name: OnelyOnly believers on Chriſt, and receivers of Chriſt are Sons; and have we not the ſame ſweetly expreſſed by the Apoſtle? Come out from among them, and be ye ſeparate ſaith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; there is Gods call, which he makes effectual, by cauſing the Soule to cloſe with it: Then, I will receive you; and will be a Father unto you, and ye ſhall be my Sons, and Daughters, ſaith the Lord Almighty: There is the precious Priviledge. 2 Corinth. 6. 17, 18. And again, Ye are all the Children of God by Faith in Chriſt Jeſus. Gal. 3. 26. And that we might receive the adoption of Sons. Galat. 4. 6. To have the Church our Mother is much, but to have God our Father is more: How do many glory in Titles of dignity and honour, and boaſt of their Relation and alliance to, or deſcent from perſons of eminency, and think themſelves glorious, when dreſt, and ſet out with theſe fading ſpangles? what then is it to be deſcended from the Eternal and immortal God, to be ſo nearly allied to the Soveraign of the world, the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords? when Saul offered to make David his Son in Law, by giving Merab to him; he thought the preferment too high for one of his Extract to make a Contract with a Kings Daughter, & therefore ſaith, Who am I? and what is my life, or my Fathers Family in Iſrael, that I ſhould be Son in Law to the King. 1 Sam. 18. 18. And when Saul's ſervants ſuit him for their Maſters Daughter, he ſpeaks again after the ſame manner. Verſe 23. And it is ſaid afterwards, that it pleaſed David well to be the Kings Son in Law. Verſe 26. So ſaith a gracious heart with modeſty and humility, ſenſible of it's own nothingneſſe: Lord, what am I but a Worm, a Wretch, a dead Dogge? I am a Sinner, and ſo were my Progenitours, there is nothing in them, or me, why thou ſhouldeſt make choice of me to be thy Son: The Soul admires this condeſcendency of the Lord; and accounts this Sonſhip worth all; as it is ſaid of Theodoſius, that he more gloried in being the Servant of Chriſt, than the Emperour of the Eaſt: You that are Carnal, are Enemies and Strangers to God; you that are called, are his Friends and acquaintance; the other are Servants in the loweſt ſence, you Sons in a ſpecial ſence: The ſpouſe of Chriſt is called the Kings Daughter. Pſ. 45. 13. Such honour, ſuch dignity have all his Saints; what aſpiring is there in the world after greatneſſe, renown, honour? inſatiable thirſts, unwearied labouring for theſe things, till Men looſe their credit, reputation, honour, lives, yea, and Soules too: but they are not to be compared with this; they are but twinkling Starres to this ſhining Sun.
7. Sanctification: Thoſe that are effectually S. 7 called, are called to be Holy in the whole courſe of their lives: So ſaith the Apoſtle, God hath not called us unto uncleanneſſe, but unto Holineſſe: Theſe Heavenly Courtiers go all in the white clothing of Sanctity; the Children of the great King are dreſſed in the ſoft raiments of Piety and grace: they walk in clean paths, they follow Holineſſe; not to perſecute, but Heb. 12. 14.to practice it; not to drive it from them, but to draw it to them; not with loathing, but with love: They have given up their names to Chriſt, and they would not defile their nature with ſin; they have taken Chriſts pay, and foreign.they would not do the Devil ſervice; they ſtudy and care to walk with God like Enoch; and are careful to look to the Garden of their hearts, (in which God hath ſet the Plants of grace,) that the Serpent get not in: It is their John 4. 34.meat and drink to do the will of their Father with Chriſt; they have put on Chriſt by Faith in effectual calling, and they would not make Proviſion for the Fleſh, to fulfil the luſts thereof. Rom. 13. 14. They have put off their coat of ſin, and they are loath to put it on again; they have waſhed their feet, and they are unwilling to defile them; as the Spouſe is brought in ſpeaking, though in another way. Cantic. 5. 3. I onelyonly allude; if you enquire, or look for a Man or Woman that is effectually called; one may ſay he is not here in the way of ſin, but he is riſen; you ſhall find them in the way of grace, the narrow ſtrait way; in the path of Piety: Thou that art yet unchanged, art ſtill in the dirty miry road of impiety; with the Dogg and the Sow thou delighteſt in filthineſſe; thou art ſwearing, blaſpheming, drinking, gaming, cheating, ſcoffing, lying, reviling. Prov. 5. 14. vide Jun. in …c. Pares cum …itus.Thou art not onelyonly almoſt, but altogether in all evil, in the midſt of the Congregation and aſſembly; that is, openly before all: Thou haſt thine haunt with vain perſons, and keepeſt company with diſſemblers: but the converted Soul is praying, repenting, hearing, reading, believing, ſpeaking good, doing good to it ſelf, to others, to body and ſoul; adviſing and Prov. 13. 20. 2 Pet. 1. 10. Phil. 2. 12.counſelling it's charge, it's Friends: It walketh with the wiſe; is giving all diligence to make its calling and Election ſure, is working out its Salvation with fear and trembling; is watching againſt evil, to good; and ſeeking opportunities Phil. 1. 27.of glorifying God: Labouring to have its converſation, as becometh the Goſpel; endeavouring to walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleaſing, being fruitful in every good work; and having Col. 1. 10.named the name of the Lord, ſtriveth to depart from Iniquity. This is a moſt choice Fruit of effectual calling, to be Holy and gracious in ones wayes and carriages: it is ſuch a Priviledge that but few in the world do attain unto: viz. to have on the cleane linnen of the Saints, to have Holineſſe written even upon the Horſes 1 Pet. 1. 15.Bridles, to be Holy in all manner of converſation, as he is, who hath called them: A converted Soul rejoyceth much at this, and is very glad of it; to find a tincture of Holineſſe on all it's wayes; that the clear waters of Sanctity ſhould run through the Channel of his thoughts, words, & deeds; and that all his actions through the help of the Spirit are enamelled with Piety.
8. Afflictions, or Perſecutions: And is it, S. 8 you will ſay a comfort, a Priviledge to be afflicted, to be perſecuted? yea, when for Chriſts ſake, a good conſcience, and the Goſpels ſake, it is a great honour; ſinners account nothing worſe, and it ſo imbitters Godlineſſe, grace, and converſion to them, that they ſpit out with deteſtation, though ſometimes in their mouths by verbal reſolutions: but Saints have ſo great an eſteem of ſuffering for Chriſt, that they put it in their armes, yea glory to bear it, as their Creſt. And they departed from the preſence of the Councel, rejoycing that they were counted worthy to ſuffer ſhame for his name. Acts 5. 41. Is it not the great Commendation of Moſes, that he eſteemed the reproach of Chriſt, greater riches than the Treaſures in Egypt. Heb. 11. 26. Till effectual calling none will ſuffer rightly for Chriſt; after effectual calling ſome ſuffer more, ſome leſſe; and every Saint, though not drawn out, yet is habitually diſpoſed to ſufferings: How did the Martyrs go to the flames, as to their Bed, and made their torments matter of true Triumph, and the croſſe their Crown? The French Martyr, when he ſaw the Rope about his Fellows neck, deſires to be dubbed a Knight of that Noble Order; and Babylas would be buried with his Chain, accounting it moſt dear: and what ſaith bleſſed Pauls; From henceforth let no man trouble me, for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jeſus. It is true, Thieves and vile Perſons ſuffer, &c. But there is a great deal of difference between the ſufferings of the one and other. Theſe are brands of impiety; thoſe are badges of honour; theſe are for unrighteouſneſſe, thoſe for righteouſneſſe ſake; theſe make infamous, thoſe famous; theſe are a curſe, thoſe but a croſſe, and ſuch as is a bleſſing, for ſo ſaith wiſedom it ſelf: Bleſſed are they which are perſecuted for righteouſneſſe ſake; for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven: Bleſſed are ye, when men ſhall revile and perſecute you, and for my ſake: Rejoyce, and be exceeding glad. Matth. 5. 10, 11, 12. This is a Paradox, yet Orthodox; the name of trouble ſcareth a great many: but there is no reaſon for it; if you account it an happineſſe to do Chriſts will, you muſt needs account it an Addition of happineſſe to ſuffer for ſo doing; ſhall a Souldier glory in his wounds received in a juſt War, and ſhall not a true Chriſtian, glory in what he undergoes for Chriſt? Wounds, Scarres, nicknames, ſpoilings for Chriſt ſake, are honourable, glorious, praiſe-worthy, matters of great dignity, and renown.
9. Perſeverance: Thoſe that are effectually S. 9 called ſhall perſevere, and hold out to the end, they ſhall never finally, and totally fall away; they may fall away for a time, but not for ever; in part, but not in whole. Though they fall, yet they ſhall riſe again: Their Apoſtaſy gives way to an Anaſtaſy; and their declination to a reſurrection; they may have the fall of the Leaf, but not of the Root; of the Act, but not of the Habit: They may looſe grace ex parte ſui, but not ex parte Dei; in regard of their own weakneſs, but not in regard of Gods power, becauſe they are kept by the power of God through Faith unto Salvation. 1 Pet. 1. 5. They are eſpouſed to perſeverance, which is Perſeverantia eſt filia ſummi Regis.called the Daughter of the Great King; grace, and their hearts ſhall never be divorced, the knot of love between them is tied ſo faſt by the hand of Heaven. The Gates of Hell ſhall never be able to prevail againſt them; they are a Rock in the midſt of the Sea, which ſtands immoveable, notwithſtanding the rage of winds and waves: They are Eternal like their Father; a parte poſt: they have begun, Incaſſùm bonum agitur, ſi ante vitae terminum deſeratur. Vid. Bez. in loc.and they ſhall hold out to the end of their race: I pray God (ſaith the Apoſtle) that your whole Spirit, and Soul, and Body, (that is, the powers of your Soul, reaſon, and affection, and the parts of your body) be preſerved blameleſſe unto the coming of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt. 1 Theſ. 5. 23. They are like the Laurel, or the Bayes Tree, whoſe Leaves are alwayes green; not onelyonly in the Summer of youth, but alſo in the Winter of old age. They ſhall ſtill bring forth Fruit in old age, they ſhall be fat, and flouriſhing. Pſal. 92. 14. And therefore they ſhall carry away the bayes, and the Crown from others.
The Heavenly fire that is kindled in them, ſhall never go out; thoſe Wells that God hath digged in them, ſhall never be ſtopt by the Philiſtins, thoſe flowers of grace he hath planted in their hearts ſhall never be ſpoiled, or rooted up by the ſubtle Fox of corruption within, nor the wild Boar of temptation without. Their grace may be ſick, but it ſhall never die; it may lurke, but ſhall never be loſt; it may fade, but ſhall never fall: They ſhall never deſert their colours, nor forſake the Captain of their Salvation; Deare Friends, and Reader, who ever you are, you will never endure the ſhock of aſſaults, if you have not a principle of true grace within: If you be not rooted in Chriſt by Faith in effectual calling, every little puffe will blow you down: If you put the action of your hand, and not the affection and reſolution of your heart to the Plough, you will ſoon look back, and ſo become unfit for the Kingdom of God; you may have a form of Godlineſſe, and an outſide profeſſion, and well complexioned face of Chriſtianity, but the fire and heat will ſoon take off all this Paint; your Bloſſomes and Buds will fall with an eaſy guſt; you will go back by as many degrees as ever you went forward, and though a Saint to ſeeming in youth, yet in old age you may turn Devil, yea, & ſooner too; and ſo make good Sancti juvenes, Satanici ſenes.the Devils Proverb; if you be onelyonly called, and are not alſo effectually called; artificial Religion, and made Piety is never durable, or long-lived: rooteleſſe flouriſhes will ſoon be ſapleſſe, and hang their heads; if the Garment of your Profeſſion be not made of the Sempiterno, and Perpetuano of true grace, it wil ſoon wear out: If you put not the woofe of an inward work to the warpe of an outward ſhew, you will never make ſtrong Cloth fit for a Saints back: The power of Godlineſſe will ſtand where the forme dareth not ſhew it's head: True Saints prove Standers, when others turn ſtarters: This is your happineſſe, ye Children, ye Sons, and Daughters of grace; ye ſhall hold out, and continue: Let not this breed ſecurity, and ſloth in you, but rather confidence, and courage, and caution: Let 1 Cor. 10. 12.him that ſtandeth take heed leaſt he fall: If you would ſtand, take heed, you do not fall; if you would not fall, take heed that you ſtand; if you would be ſure, you muſt not be ſecure.
10 Glorification: The laſt effect, or conſequence S. 10 of effectual calling is glory, and happineſſe in the higheſt Heavens: this I put in the laſt place, as the greateſt of all: what can be ſaid more than glory, enjoyment of God, beholding his face for ever? And this belongs onelyonly to the effectually called; as in the Text Verſe: Whom he called them he juſtified, and whom he juſtified, them he glorified: They ſhall as certainly be glorified, as it were done already; and this Peter alſo teacheth, when he ſaith, Bleſſed be the God and Father of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a living hope, by the reſurrection of Jeſus Chriſt from the dead; to an Inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reſerved in Heaven for you. 1 Pet. 1. 3, 4. Here he ſpeaketh of being begotten again, which is all one with effectual calling: and by that Inheritance incorruptible reſerved in Heaven, is meant no other than glory: It is undefiled, and therefore ſuitable to them; it is incorruptible, and cannot periſh: and therefore they need not fear it ſhall decay, or be loſt, during their ſtay on Earth, while they are at home in the body, and abſent from the Lord: gracious ones ſhall be glorious ones; Holy ones ſhall be happy ones: The effectually called ſhall be Eternally crowned: Thoſe that have Sanctifying goodneſs in poſſeſſion, have ſaving greatneſs in reverſion.
All the reſt of the conſequences of effectual calling before mentioned are not enough, the Lord will alſo give Heaven, as the perfection and accompliſhment of them all. He hath given grace, and he will give glory; and no good Pſ. 84. 11, 12.thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly: O Lord God of Hoſts, bleſſed is the man that truſteth in thee, that is called by thee: The Lord called them to make them fit for Heaven, (for by nature we are as contrary to Heaven, as to the way thereunto, though we little think it) and therefore have it they ſhall: Giving Col. 1. 11, 12.thanks unto the Father, (you ſee neither Peter before, nor Paul now quoted can mention it without Doxology, and we ſhould imitate them) Which hath made us meet to be Partakers of the Inheritance of the Saints in Light, (what is that but Heaven?) and how did he make them meet? why, that followes, Who hath delivered us from the power of darkneſſe and hath tranſlated us unto the Kingdom of his dear Son. Coloſ. 1. 11, 12. What is delivering from the power of darkneſſe, but the bringing of a Soul out of an Eſtate of nature, which is done in effectual calling: But as for you that are in your ſins, for all your challenge, Heaven, glory is none of yours: this Scepter ſhall never be put into the ſinful hands, the Crowns of this Kingdom ſhall never circle the heads, that are void of the right knowledg of Jeſus Chriſt: unrighteous ones ſhall not enter in at the Gates of the new Jeruſalem; living and dying in your ſins, you ſhall ever be excluded, and ſhut out: let the ſerious thoughts of it daunt thy Spirit, and ſtop thy courſe: Heaven is not for all, Aula coeleſtis non ſuſcipit niſi Sanctos, & pios.onelyonly for ſome; it is the City, Houſe, Manſion onelyonly of the Saints, amongſt the Sons of men; onelyonly converted ones ſhall be Courtiers there.