Effectual Calling and Election 2, Sermon 3
SERMON III.
2 PET. 1.10.
Wherefore the rather, Brethren, give all diligence to make your Calling and Election ſure.
HAving finiſht the firſt part of the diſcoverie, in relation to the Method God takes with thoſe whom he doth effectually call. I now proceed to the ſecond way of diſcoverie, and that is by thoſe ſaving Concomitants, that doe and will accompanie a ſoul, that is effectually call'd: and theſe ſaving effects, I ſhall reduce under eight heads.
Firſt, A man effectually call'd by Chriſt, he doth unfainedly love the word of God, and the Miniſter that preached that word that God did uſe as an inſtrument of his call. Firſt, I ſay, he will love the word, John 8.47. He that is of God, (that is, he that is call'd by God) heareth Gods word, therefore you are not of God, becauſe you heare not his word. There the Scripture tels us, that they who are of God, effectually called by him, they heare his word with abundance of delight; and abundance of joy and love. So 1 John 4, 5, 6. He that is of God heareth us, he that is not of God heareth not us. And therefore David, when he would evidence a work of God upon his heart, Pſal. 119.14. Thy word, ſaith he, is as great riches to me. And as if he did not value riches comparable to the word, verſ. 72. I love thy word above thouſands of gold, and ſilver. Beloved, if you are converted and called by Jeſus Chriſt, you will love the Word of God, that was an inſtrument of your Call. Wherfore, all you that ſpurn againſt the Goſpel, that cannot endure to have the word come with power upon your conſciences; all you that are weary of Ordinances, and finde no more ſavour in an Ordinance of God, then (as Job ſaith) there is taſte in the white of an egg; this is an argument you are not yet called. What's the reaſon one man will riſe early, go far, take pains, and many times neglect his own lawfull affairs, and all to enjoy the Word: when another man will goe by the Church-door, and haply go to a Tavern, and will not go to hear the Word at all? What's the reaſon? One is call'd by the Word, and the other not: one is called by the Word, and therefore loves it; another is not called, and that makes him neglect it.
2. He doth not onelyonly love the word, but the Miniſter that by preaching the word was an inſtrument of his converſion. And therefore it is obſervable which ſome Divines note, That of all men that we read of in Scripture, there was no man did love Paul ſo much as Timothie: For I have no man like minded, ſaith Paul, Phil. 2.22. No man that did ſo naturally care for him, and for the Church of God, as he; For as a ſon with his father, hath hee ſerved me. And what's the reaſon? Why, Paul was the inſtrument of Timothy's Converſion, and Timothy being a Miniſter, and come to a great pitch in grace, hee thought that of all Arguments in the world, that ſhould indear him to love Paul, becauſe Paul was the Miniſter that did convert him: therefore he calls him (1 Tim. 1.2.) Timothy his beloved ſon in the faith. And hence it is, that when the Apoſtle would draw love from the Corinthians to himſelf, and the Miniſters of Chriſt that were the means of their calling, hee urgeth it upon this ground, that they were the means that did beget them to Chriſt Jeſus, 1 Cor. 4. ver. 1. compared with ver. 15, 16. Let a man ſo account of us, as of the Miniſters of Chriſt, and as Stewards of the myſteries of God. Why ſhould men ſo account of them? For (ver. 15.) though you have ten thouſand Inſtructors, yet have you not many Fathers; for in Chriſt Jeſus I have begotten you through the Goſpel. Hereby he would draw out their love to him, becauſe he was the inſtrument that did firſt convert them. Now then, put theſe two together: A man that is effectually called, he doth both love the Word of Chriſt, that was an inſtrument of his calling; and the Miniſter that preach'd that word, which was the means by which he was called: and try your ſelves by theſe. Many of you haply have ſome good wrought (as you think) upon you, and ſome change in you; but truly let me tell you this, if you are perſons that are out of love with the Word, if you are out of love with thoſe Miniſters God made inſtrumental to convert you; you have juſt cauſe to ſuſpect your calling; for you ſee thorowout the whole courſe of Scripture, their hearts did cleave with love to them that called them: And therefore they that can ſlight and contemn thoſe Miniſters by whoſe miniſtry they were brought home to Jeſus Chriſt, they have juſt cauſe of jealouſie to ſuſpect their Call. Again,
2. If God hath effectually called you, he will by his Spirit bring you out of a ſtate of ignorance and darkneſſe, and give you ſome meaſure of knowledg, to be acquainted both with the myſteries of God and Chriſt, and the ſinfulneſſe of your ſelves, more then ever you were before. This the Apoſtle Peter intimates, 1 Pet. 2. ver. 9. You are a choſen generation, a royall Prieſthood, a peculiar people, that you may ſhew forth the praiſes of him, who hath called you out of darkneſſe into his marvellous light: i. e. out of ignorance into a great meaſure of knowledg. And it is called a marvellous light, 1. Becauſe it is marvellous if you compare that knowledg you ſhall have under the Goſpel, with what men had under the Law. 2. It is marvellous, becauſe men are aſtoniſh'd, that they ſhould, after ſo long a night of ignorance, come to ſo great a meaſure of knowledg. 3. It is called marvell us, becauſe it is ſo contrary to that condition they were formerly in: As if a man that hath lain long in a dark dungeon, ſhould be ſuddenly called into a glorious Palace, the Palace would ſeem more glorious, becauſe it is ſo contrary to the dark Priſon: So this work of God when he calls you, it is called marvellous light, becauſe it is ſo contrary to the condition you were in before your calling. Iſa. 30.26. Acts 26.18. He hath ſent his word to call you from darkneſſe to light, and from the power of Sathan to God. 4. It is a marvellous light, becauſe ſuch as none but the Mediator could procure it, Iſa. 42.6, 7. I will give thee for a light to the gentiles. 5. It is a marvellous light, becauſe a light that ſhines out of darkneſſe, 2 Cor. 4.6. God that commanded the light to ſhine out of darkneſſe. 6. It is a marvellous light becauſe it hath more force then any other light: 'tis called the light of life, Joh. 8.12.
Now this call from darkneſſe to light hath two Branches: 1. A man ſhall have more light, to have more acquaintance with, and more clearneſſe in the myſteries of Jeſus Chriſt: And 2. more light to know the ſinfulneſſe of himſelf.
Firſt, He ſhall have more light to know the myſteries of Jeſus Chriſt: And hence it is that Paul tels us, Gal. 1.16. It pleaſed God to call me by his grace, and to reveal his Son in me; implying, that where God by his grace doth call a ſinner, he doth reveal his Son unto him. Wherefore, Beloved, if Jeſus Chriſt be not made known to your ſouls, if you have no competent meaſure of the knowledg of Chriſt; you may be under this conviction, that you are not yet called by Jeſus Chriſt. Nay further, he doth not onelyonly call you unto this light, to manifeſt Jeſus Chriſt to you in ſome dim way; but you ſhall have a clear light: 2 Cor. 4.6. For God who commanded light to ſhine out of darkneſſe, hath ſhined in our hearts (not in a dim, but ſhining light) to give us the light of the knowledg of the glory of God in the face of Jeſus Chriſt: that is, you have a cleer light to know God in the face of Chriſt; you cannot know God in himſelf, but in the perſon of Chriſt you ſhall have light to know him. This therefore is the firſt Branch, That God will put a light into thy ſoul, whereby thou ſhalt have a clear knowledg of the things appertaining to Jeſus Chriſt.
Again Secondly, This light ſhall not onelyonly reveal Chriſt to thee; but this light ſhall alſo reveal thy Self to thee, the ſinfulneſſe of thy ſelf. It is obſervable of Paul, that before his calling, he was after the law blameleſſe; he thought himſelf to be a faultleſſe man; but when the word called him, then he cryes out, I ſee ſin to be exceeding ſinfull: then he ſaw ſin to be ſin, and himſelf to be a vile and wretched man. And therefore, Beloved, any of you that have not this marvellous light in your ſouls, neither to know God, nor know Jeſus Chriſt, nor the matters appertaining to him, nor to know the ſinfulneſſe of your own hearts; take it from God, you are not effectually called: either theſe paſſages in Scripture muſt be raſed out, or elſe your calling muſt not be ſound; and therefore take heed: I would fain make my Miniſtrie ſearching, that hypocrites may not lie lurking under it. You would be better Chriſtians, if you were better acquainted with all that unſoundneſſe, and that wretchedneſſe of heart that is in you; and therefore (I intreat you) look about you: Though I would have no godly man diſcouraged by this that is ſpoken; but that you that are not yet called, might have your hearts a little ſtaggered by what is and will be ſaid.
3. A man effectually called is caſt out of himſelf, and cleaves to, and cloſeth with Jeſus Chriſt, with more complacencie and contentment, then ever he could do in all his life before. John 6.45. Hee that hath heard and learned of the father, ſhall come unto me; he doth not ſay, all they that hear of the father: many men do heare the word, but never cloſe in with Chriſt; but all they that have heard, and by hearing have learnt, and are called, come unto mee, and cloſe in with me, and cleave to me, and take content and delight in me. Beloved, there are many that hear the word, yet never go out of themſelves, and never cloſe in with Chriſt: yea but all they that heare and learne, that hear and are called by hearing, they all come in to Jeſus Chriſt. Wherefore all you, that in hearing cannot find your hearts in love with Chriſt, cannot find your hearts to cloſe in with Chriſt, and believe in Chriſt; you have juſt cauſe to ſuſpect your Call, that your calling is not effectual. 1 Cor. 1.24. The Apoſtle tels you, there were other men counted Chriſt fooliſhneſſe; but to you that are called, Chriſt is the power and wiſedome of God: that is, you do acknowledg, and you do conceive of Jeſus Chriſt, that he hath as much power as God hath in him, and as much wiſedome as God hath in him; and you cloſe in with Chriſt for that end, when other men think Chriſt to be fooliſh, and Chriſt weak; men uncall'd, they have low thoughts of Chriſt; but to you that are call'd, Chriſt is the power and wiſedome of God: You will have high thoughts of Jeſus Chriſt if you are effectually called.
4. That man that is effectually called, he ſhall be inabled by the ſpirit of Chriſt to call upon God, 1. Cor. 1.2. To all in Corinth called to be Saints, with all that call upon the name of the Lord. There the Apoſtle joynes called to be Saints, with this phraſe, to call upon God; to ſhew, that whoever is effectually called to be a Saint, that man ſhall be inabled by the Spirit of Jeſus, to call upon God. Pſal. 27.8. When thouſaideſt, Seek my face; my heart ſaid unto thee, thy face Lord will I ſeek. Hence ye read, Acts 9.11. when Ananias doubted whether Paul was truely call'd or no, and Jeſus Chriſt would convince Ananias that he was truely call'd; what means doth he uſe? verſe 11. do not ſuſpect him, but ariſe ſaith Chriſt, and goe to him into the ſtreet, called Straight; and enquire at the houſe of Judas for one Saul of Tarſus, for behold he prayeth. If he were not call'd, he would never goe to God in ſuch a cordiall way, and humble his ſoul before God for his by paſt failings; and beg ſtrength for time to come, and labour to have his peace made with me. Go to him, for behold he prayeth: and therefore all you that have not a ſpirit in any meaſure to call upon God, and to powr forth your requeſts in a ſolemn prayer; you have juſt cauſe of jealouſie to ſuſpect your Call.
5. If you are effectually call'd, God hath wrought in your ſouls, an utter deteſtation and loathing of all the evils that in the former part of your lives before you calling your have committed and were guilty of. Hoſ. 14.8. Ephraim ſhall ſay, what have I any more to doe with Idols? The interrogation imports a vehement deteſtation of them, and indignation againſt them. 2 Cor. 7.11. the Apoſtle ſpeaks there of repentance, (the ſame with calling) when men come to have the work of grace in their hearts; and this is a branch of it; that godly ſorrow cauſeth care, and cauſeth fear, and cauſeth indignation: that is, if any man be a repenting man, and a converted man; this converſion will cauſe indignation: that is, he will be even mad with himſelf, and angry with himſelf, that he ſhould be ſo vile a wretch before converſion, as he hath been. Thus was Paul, hee ſpeaks with indignation againſt the ſins he was guilty of before his calling; I have been a perſecutor, I have hal'd the Saints into priſon; Nay, ſaith hee, I was even mad againſt the Church. Beloved, you will count your ſins to be madneſſe, and count them to be greatly aggravated, that were committed before God call'd you. Anſelm ſaid to his body, I'le tame thee, O unruly beaſt, with faſting and praier. We read of one that bit off his tongue in indignation, that therewith he had denied Jeſus Chriſt. Another Martyr put that hand firſt into the fire, with which he had ſubſcribed a recantation; ſaying, Burn thou, O hand, that didſt ſubſcribe to that which might have made me burn both body and ſoul in hell. And therefore you that have no loathing thoughts againſt paſt deceit, and paſt drunkenneſſe, and paſt ſwearing, and your paſt evils; ſuſpect your calling: You that do not abhor the thoughts of your former evils, your wonted pride, and wonted covetouſneſſe; if you cannot looke with indignation againſt theſe, you have great cauſe to ſuſpect your call: For if God have call'd you, he will make you even angry with your ſelves, that ever you have been ſo vile as you have been. Hence it is, when God ſpeaks of Iſraels converſion, Iſa. 2.20. 'tis ſaid, they ſhall caſt away their idols from them: they ſhall caſt away their ſins as with indignation againſt themſelves, becauſe they have ſinned. And hence in the Propheſie of Ezek. 20.43. the Prophet tels them, that for the evils they had done, they ſhould loath themſelves in their own eyes: their indignation ſhould be ſo great againſt themſelves, that ever they ſhould be ſo vile againſt God before their call. So David with indignation ſaith, after he had recovered himſelf, and brought his heart into a repentant frame, ſo fooliſh was I and ignorant, Pſal. 73.22. Now Beloved, I would here appeale unto you, I will judge no man; let your own conſciences paſs ſentence upon you; But let me appeal to your ſelves; Have not many of you before theſe times been oppoſers of Religion; men walking in ungodly, lewd, and profane courſes of living? haply now you are moulded into a form of Profeſſion; now you hear the Word, ſpeak well of Miniſters; now you cry up Government, many plauſible wayes and actions you can cary on; but what is in your hearts? Have you indignation againſt your paſt perſecution, and evils? If not beleeve it, though you go far, I fear you may come ſhort of beaven; your calling is not real, if you have not indignation and wrath againſt your former ſins committed. And therefore, O what a ſad word is this to all inſenſible ſinners! that are men that never had their hearts touch'd with remorſe for any evil: What a ſad word is this to you, that have been drunk week after week; and ſworn day after day; and deceived hour after hour; and been unclean time after time; and yet all theſe evils never touch'd the heart? Truly, you have great cauſe to fear, that God hath not yet effectually called you by Jeſus Chriſt.
6. The man that is effectually called, his ſpirit is brought into an obediential frame, to yeeld obedience to the commands of Jeſus Chriſt: if God call you by his Spirit, hee will not leave you to the exorbitancies of your own wayes and will, but he will bring you to a yeeldingneſſe of heart to all his commands. Rom. 15, 6. We have received grace and Apoſtleſhip for obedience to the faith among all Nations, among whom you are alſo the called of Jeſus Chriſt. The Apoſtle did not alone receive grace for obedience; but the ſame was among them alſo: You receive grace for the obedience of faith. So that now, if you are the called of Jeſus Chriſt, the Lord hath this work upon you, he doth bring you to the obedience of faith; that is, he doth work in your ſouls a yeelding frame to obey all the commands of Jeſus Chriſt: and therefore any of you that ſtand out with ſtoutneſſe of heart againſt Jeſus Chriſt; let Chriſt ſay what he will, you will do what you liſt; let him command what he will, you will do what you pleaſe: you that ſtand out thus with gainſaying of ſpirit againſt Jeſus Chriſt, you have great cauſe to ſuſpect your Call. Again,
7. A man effectually called by Jeſus Chriſt, he will be miſ-called and reproach'd by the men of the world: John 15.19. If you were of the world, the world would love his own; but becauſe you are not of the world, but I have choſen you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Yet do not miſtake me; I do not ſay in this Concomitant, That every man that is reproach'd and miſ-called is a called man: but I ſay, A man that is truly called, will be miſ-called by wicked men. Now miſ-calling, or the reproaches of wicked men, is a pledg of your effectual calling, if you take in theſe qualifications: Firſt, If they miſ-call you meerly becauſe you are godly, and hate you becauſe of your holineſſe, then it is an argument: As Jeſus Chriſt ſaid, Becauſe I have called you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Secondly, If they miſ-call you when you give no occaſion of offence wherefore they may juſtly miſ-call you: If you can ſay with David, Pſal. 59. They miſ-call me; but it is neither for my wickedneſſe, nor for my ſins: if they miſ-call you without any ground, then it is a probable argument of your effectual Calling.
8. A man effectually called, he makes it his endeavour to walk worthy of his calling: 2 Theſſ. 2.13, 14. So. Epheſ. 4.1. Walk worthy of the calling wherewith you are called. And thus I have briefly gone over theſe Eight Particulars: I intreat you, delude not your own hearts, but bring the Word and your hearts together, and trie by theſe Notes, whether you can evidence to your own ſouls, That you are effectually called by Jeſus Chriſt, or no.
Now is this true, That with all thoſe whom God hath effectually called, he doth take thoſe Methods before ſpoken of; and he doth work theſe Concomitants now named? Then 1. By way of Ʋſe, Ʋſe 1 This ſhould be aſtoniſhment to all thoſe that never had thoſe Methods of God upon their ſouls; that never had theſe effects within them to accompanie their Call. O (Beloved) I wiſh I could faſten the nail of Terror deep into their hearts, that never had any of theſe wrought in their ſouls; that never loved the word, nor the Miniſters of it; that never were brought by God out of a ſtate of ignorance into a ſtate of knowledg; that never did cloſe in effectually with Jeſus Chriſt; that never had indignation againſt the evils they did before converſion; that never had their hearts brought into an obediential frame, to take impreſſion of any command that God ſhould laie upon them; how ſadly ſhould this Conſideration lie upon your hearts?
Ʋſe 2 2. Are you effectually called? Labour to reſemble him in your converſation that hath called you. This Uſe the Apoſtle makes of this Doctrine, 1 Pet. 1.15. As he that hath called you is holy, ſo be you holy: Reſemble him that hath called you in holineſſe. An excellent phraſe you have, 1 Pet. 2.9. Shew forth (ſaith the Apoſtle) the praiſes of him that hath called you from darkneſſe into his marvellous light. foreign &c.The word is more ful in the Greek; Shew forth, or manifeſt (not the praiſes, as we read it, but) the vertues or the graces of him that hath called you. If God hath called you, and Chriſt hath called you, you ſhould ſhew forth Chriſts graces in your converſation; that is, live as Chriſt lived, and walk as Chriſt walked. If you ſay, you have fellowſhip with Chriſt, you ought alſo to walk as he walked, 1 Joh. 1.6.
Ʋſe 3 3. Do nothing that may any way blemiſh this holy calling of yours; this the Apoſtle preſſeth, 2 Theſ. 1.11. We pray alwaies for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling; So Epheſ. 4.1. I as a priſoner of the Lord Jeſus beſeech you, that you walk worthy of the Vocation wherewith you are call'd. Beloved, If you are called, take heed of any way blemiſhing your Call: All the ſcandals and failings you commit, laies a ſpot upon that holy calling of yours: though indeed there is no reaſon to blemiſh a mans Profeſſion, although ſome ſhould err in their practice. The Apoſtle takes off this, Gal. 5.8. This perſwaſion, ſaith Paul, comes not from him that hath called you. As if he ſhould ſay; many men ſeeing the Galathians turn Apoſtates, they may blame Religion, and blame God that call'd them; but ſaith the Apoſtle, do not blame them; for this perſwaſion of their failings, comes not from him that called them: your calling is not in fault, but your corruptions are in fault. Therefore it is an unjuſt accuſation, becauſe ſome men fail, to blame God, and blame profeſſion, and Religion for it.
Ʋſe 4 4. If God hath effectually call'd you, and you can evince it to your own ſouls upon the diſcovery before heard; my laſt Uſe is this, that you would live in exalting and magnifying of the grace of God in your calling: you are called, 1 Tim. 1.9.ſaith the Apoſtle, according to the purpoſe of his grace; not according to your own works. O live, live in magnifying that grace that hath called you.
And here I might preſſe upon you 7 or 8 Conſiderations, why you ſhould live in magnifying of grace. I ſhal name them firſt in general. This exhortation ſhould much ſway with you, if you would conſider theſe three things, 1. From what you are called. 2. To what you are called; and 3. For what you are called. I ſhall put the two firſt together.
1. The Conſideration of this, from what, and to what you are called; ſhould much heighten your magnifying of Gods grace: And here I ſhall name ſeven particulars.
1. A man effectually called, he is called from ignorance to knowledg, 1 Pet. 2.9. You are called from darkneſſe, into marvellous light. Now ſhould not this make you magnifie mercy, that you that lay in your ſins uncalled, as in a dungeon of darkneſſe; now God ſhould call you into a lightſome and pleaſurable palace? thy mind was as a fair builded houſe without windows: or if any, but woodden windows, that would let in no light; now God hath opened theſe ſhutts, and let in the Sun of righteouſneſſe to ſhine upon thy ſoul; and brought thee from this dungeon of darkneſſe in thy ſoul; and given thee the light of his knowledge.
2. You are called from a courſe of ſin, to a courſe of holineſſe. Before your calling you were the Divels Drudges, and did his work at will; the Divel (in Pauls language to Timothy), had you Captive at his pleaſure, but when God cals you, he takes you from under the dominion and raign of ſin; and brings you into a courſe of holineſs. 1 Theſ. 4.7. You are called, not unto uncleanneſs, but unto holineſs, 2 Pet. 1.3. He hath called us to glory and vertue. Before calling, thou wert the receptacle or common ſhore of all filth and uncleanneſſe; when called, thou art ſwept with the beſome of Sanctification; yea beautified and adorned as a pleaſant palace for thy God to delight in. And this ſhould cauſe you much to magnifie grace, that you are brought from being the Divels drudges, to be Gods freemen; from being the Divels ſlaves, to be Gods ſervants; from being the Divels taskeman, to pay thee thy wages in hell; to be Gods workman, for which he wil give thee thy reward in heaven.
3. God cals thee from bondage to libertie. In the time that thou art uncalled, thou art in bondage; 2 Pet. 2.19. they are the ſervants of Corruption, &c. in bondage to thy luſts, and bondage to thy Paſſion, and a ſlave to the world; thou art in bondage under the Law, under the cauſe and rigour, and condemnation of it; but now Jeſus Chriſt, if he have called thee, he hath called thee to libertie. Gal. 5.13. You are called to libertie, only uſe not libertie as a Cloak to wickedneſs. Before calling, 2 Tim. 2.25, you are in Sathans ſnares, but after calling, you are ſet at libertie, you are freed from the guilt, and freed from the bondage of your ſinne.
4. You are called from a condition of eſtrangedneſſe, into an intimate familiaritie & fellowſhip with Jeſus Chriſt, Before calling, you are Strangers from the life of grace, Epheſ. 4.18. You are without God in the world, ſtrangers to the Commonwealth of Iſrael, Epheſ. 2.12. But when God calls you, he cals you from the condition of a ſtranger, and brings you into friendſhip and fellowſhip with Jeſus Chriſt. 1 Corin. 1.9. God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowſhip of his Son: You who were without Chriſt before calling, being called, you enjoy neer familiaritie with his Son.
5. You are called from Sathan unto God. Acts 26.18. He hath ſent forth his word among you, to bring you from darkneſſe to light, and from the power of Sathan to God. Sathan, who was thy lord, and was thy maſter, and ruler, thou art now from under his clutches, and brought under the dominion and ſubjection of thy God.
6. When God effectually calls thee, thou art brought from a ſtate of enmitie againſt God, to a ſtate of amitie and reconciliation towards him, and Jeſus Chriſt, and all the things of God. Col. 3.15. Let the peace of God rule in your hearts, for to this ye are called; and be yee thankeful. God hath called you to peace, he hath not called you to wrath. Before Calling, God and thy ſoul were the moſt inveterate enemies in all the world: After Calling, God and thou are of enemies become the greateſt friends: You are called to peace, therefore be thankful.
7. You are called from a ſtate of ſhame to a ſtate of glory. Before you are called you are vile and ſhameful creatures in Gods ſight; when God cals you, he cals you into a condition of glory. 1 Pet. 5.10. Who hath called us to his eternal glory: and 1 Theſ. 2.12. Since thou waſt precious in my ſight, and I have loved thee, thou becameſt honourable, Iſa 43. 1 Pet. 2.6. To you that believe, Chriſt is precious: or as it is in the Greek, foreign.he is an honour to you. Jeſus Chriſt, when once you are called to a believing ſtate, he is not onelyonly precious to you, and prized of you; but he is an honour to you. This then you are to conſider, that uncalled, you are in a ſhamefull condition, no badg of honour lies upon you; but when once you are called by Chriſt, he becomes an honour to you.
8. And laſtly, (which ſhall be accompliſhed in the end) you ſhall be called from earth to heaven, and from the grave to glory; this ſhall be your call after death. Now put all theſe Eight together: To be called from ignorance to knowledg; from ſin to grace, from bondage to liberty; from eſtrangement to fellowſhip with Jeſus Chriſt; from a ſtate of enmitie to a ſtate of amitie and reconciliation with God and man; from ſhame to glorie; and from earth to heaven: and ſhould not this mightily highten your joy, and greaten your praiſes in magnifying the grace of God in your hearts?
Secondly, Again, The conſideration of this, As, From what, and To what; ſo, For what you are called, ſhould greaten your praiſes. Now for what are you called? You are called meerly according to the purpoſe of his owne grace; neither foreſeen works, nor good education, nor grace in you, none of all theſe were motives in Gods breſt to call you. And hence you may ſee it was nothing in you, becauſe there were many things in us might move God not to call us: We have often withſtood his call; we have often ſtrangled the motions of his Spirit in our hearts; we have often carried gain ſaying hearts to the wooings of the Miniſters of Chriſt: So that it is nothing in us, but meerly his own grace that conquers our unholineſſe, and conquers our unwillingneſſe, and overcomes that ſtoutneſſe of heart that is in us; meerly the grace and goodneſſe of Jeſus Chriſt. Now ſumm up all theſe together, and revolve them in your hearts, and you will ſee what great cauſe you have to live in magnifying of Jeſus Chriſt.