A Treatise of Prayer and Divine Providence, Chapter 3 · Section 1
SECT. I.
Of the People of God.
ALl Nations and perſons in the world are in one acception Gods people, in as much as he is their Creator and ſupreme Lord, they his Creatures and Subjects: The Earth is the Lords, Pſa. 24.1.and the fulneſs thereof, the world and they that dwell therein. He himſelf ſaith, Behold all Souls are mine: Ezek. 18.4 Job 41.11and again, Whatſoever is under the whole Heaven, is mine. But ſome people are his in peculiar above others, and in a more neer and ſpecial relation belong unto him; in as much as he fixeth a more peculiar property in them, and ſettleth a more ſpecial dominion over them, and placeth a more intimate preſence among them: Moſes ſaith unto Iſrael, The Lord thy God hath choſen thee to be a ſpecial people unto himſelf, above all people that are upon the face of the Earth. Deut. 7.6 10.14, 15Behold, the Heaven, and the Heaven of Heavens is the Lords thy God, the Earth alſo with all that therein is: only the Lord had a delight in thy fathers, to love them; and he choſe their ſeed after them, even you, above all people, as it is this day.
It muſt be noted further of theſe his peculiar people: 1. Some are in this relation by external vocation, union, communion, and profeſsion only; that is, they are appropriated to God by outward acts of Ordinances and Worſhip, and enjoy external, miniſterial, and temporary priviledges and benefits. The deſcription of theſe in Scripture is; They are Gods people and Saints, that have made a Covenant with him by ſacrifice: Pſa. 50.5. 2 Chro. 7.14 Neh. 1.10they are his people which are called by his Name, or upon whom his Name is called: Theſe are thy ſervants, and thy people, whom thou haſt redeemed by thy great power, and by thy ſtrong hand, viz. from Egypt. They are they to whom pertaineth the Adoption, and the glory, Rom. 9.4.and the Covenants, and the giving of the Law, and the ſervice of God, and the Promiſes: that is, they have thoſe things, as to the outward ſigns, tokens, expreſſions, and actions of them. 2. Some have, over and above this ſtile and relation, a neerer appertainency unto God, to wit, by inward and effectual grace, calling, union and communion. He that is of this number, is called an Iſraelite indeed, in whom is no guile: a Jew inwardly, Joh. 1.47 Rom. 2.29that hath the Circumciſion of the heart, and in the ſpirit: of ſuch the Lord ſpeaketh, Surely they are my people, children that will not lye; Iſai. 63.8ſo he was their Saviour. Theſe are ſuch as God hath peculiarly loved, freely choſen, dearly purchaſed, efficaciouſly called, abſolutely covenanted with, and ſingularly qualified, and ſanctified for this relation, and the benefits and glory that enſue upon it. The Scripture is induſtrious in diſtinguiſhing betwixt the people of God in the former, and in the latter way; and ſhewing the difference which there is between them in ſharing of the priviledges of Gods people.
They that are his in the former way only, are ſet out under this character, They are Jews outwardly, they are born after the fleſh; they are the ſons of the Bond-woman, Rom: 2.28 Gal. 4.29, 30 Iſai. 48.1.they are called by the name of Iſrael, and are come forth out of the waters of Judah, which ſwear by the Name of the Lord, and make mention of the God of Iſrael, Matt. 7.22but not in truth, nor in righteouſneſs: They will ſay unto Chriſt, Lord, Luk. 13.26Lord, have we not prophecyed in thy Name, and in thy Name have caſt out Devils, and in thy Name done many wonderful works? we have eaten and drunken in thy preſence, and thou haſt taught in our ſtreets: Theſe, becauſe they are meer nominals, and remain without the ſpiritual part of this relation, without thoſe graces, vertues, and effectual workings that are in Saints indeed, and without the truth, power, and life of Sanctification; therefore they are in the upſhot diſclaimed,Hoſ. 1 9. Ro. 9.6, 7 1 28 1 Joh. 2.19 Mat. 7.23 and declared to be, not the people of God; not Iſrael, though of Iſrael; not children, though the ſeed of Abraham; not Jews, not of us: and Chriſt will profeſs unto them, I never knew ye; depart from me, ye workers of iniquity.
But they that are Gods people in the latter, more peculiar and intimate reſpect, they are noted out thus: They are the little flock, to whom it is their fathers good pleaſure to give the Kingdom; Luk. 12 32 Mat. 20.16the few that are choſen of the many that be called: his people which he fore-knew: Ro. 11.2, 5 9.7, 8, 23 27.4.12.the remnant according to the Election of Grace: the children of the Promiſe: Abrahams ſeed by Iſaac: the veſſels of mercy: the remnant that ſhall be ſaved: not of the Circumciſion only, but walkers in the ſteps of the faith of our father Abraham: Gal. 4.29, 3…ſons of the free-woman, born after the Spirit.
As there is betwixt theſe two ſorts [viz. the people of God by external vocation only, and they that are his by internal transformation alſo] much difference in other reſpects; ſo there is particularly in reſpect of ſucceſs in prayer: and though the Lord may in ſome ſort hide himſelf from them both when they pray, yet not from them both alike: the difference will be ſhewn after.