A Complete Body of Divinity, Sermons · 115 (Question 31)
SERMON CXV.
QUESTION XXXI.
WHAT is Effect… Calling?
ANSWER.
EFFECTUAL Caſting is a Work of GOD's Holy Spirit, whereby Convincing us of our Sin and Miſery, and Enlightning our Minds in the knowledge of CHRIST, and Renewing our Wills; He doth perſwade and enable us to Embrace JESUS CHRIST, freely offered to us in the Goſpel.
THE firſt great thing that is done for and in us in the Work of Application, is the Uniting of us to Chriſt; of which we took a brief Account under the former Queſtion. And being then told that it is done in Effectual Calling; it follows that we now co…fider of this, in which ſo glorious an effect is produced. A Deſcription whereof lies before us, and may now be a little explained.
THAT we may not be miſtaken in the matter under Conſideration, let us firſt take an Account of the Name here given it, and what is intended in it. It is named, Effectual Calling. Calling, becauſe it is a Voice of God ſpeaking to the Soul of a Sinner, inviting and alluring of him to come over to the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, and accept of him, by believing in him. Giving us to underſtand that the Spirit of God in the work of Application, treats with men as reaſonable Creatures, and Cauſ…s … …ſel, not carrying them by …olent… com…, but winning them by Arguments, … they are made willing in the day of b… … Pſal. 110.3. So it is expreſt, Pſal. 27 … thou ſ…dſt, Seek ye my …ce, my be…r… … thee, Thy face, Lord, will I ſeek. … becauſe it always gains the Si… to … of, and cloſe in with it; and ſo to … it from other Callings, which are not … There is an outward and general Call … is given to all that some within the …ou…d … the Goſpel. For the Commiſſion which … hath given to his Ambaſſadors, who …o… … his Name, obligeth them to take offe… … him, and Salvation by him to all withou… … ception, and earneſtly to invite them to … over to him, and believe in him, Mar. … And be ſaid unto them, G… ye into all the … and preach the goſpel to every creat…e. H…t, Iſai. 55.1. He every one that thirſteth, … to the waters, and be that hath no mon…y, … ye, buy and eat, yea, come, buy wine and … without money, and without price. Rev. … And the Spirit and the Bride ſay, Come. And … let him that beareth, ſay, Come. And … that is athirſt, Come. And whoſoever will, … him take the water of life freely. But … many are there who regard not this O…s the leaſt? Who ſtop their ears, and … their backs upon it. It is Chriſt's compl… Joh. 5.40. And …e will not come to … ye might have life Mat. 23.37. O Je…ſa… Jeruſalem, thou that killeſt the Prophets, & … them which are ſent unto thee, how often … …h…ve gathered thy children together even as a but gathereth her chickens under …er wings, and ye would not. There is alſo an outward Call, by which men are in a common work, ſo far …lightned, and wrought upon, as to give …ternal entertainment to the Goſpel, and make a profeſſion of Faith and Repentance, and ſo become members of a viſible Church, and enjoy the external priviledges of it; but yet their hearts were never throughly changed, not they broken off from the r…ſins. And of this Vocation Chriſt ſpeaketh, Mat. 22.14. For …ay are called, but fo…e are choſen. Theſe Callings therefore are ineffectual. This Calling is the ſame which is ſometimes called Converſion, ſometimes Rege…cration, or the New-birth. Some alſo make it the ſame with Sanctification, though others diſtinguiſh between them; and ſo doth our Catechiſm, which I ſhall follow. Only let us remember, that the habits of Sanctification, are wrought in Effectual Vocation, which are afterwards carried on in progreſſive Holineſs. So that we …d it rooted here, though it may admit of a diſtinct Diſcourſe by its ſelf. Effectual Calling comprizeth in it, the whole work of Converſion, in which a Sinner is changed and …ed, and made to comply with the Goſpel ca…, which invites him to Faith and Repen…e. But Divines do generally reſtrain it to the working of ſaving Faith in us, whereby … accept of Chriſt as propoſed to us, and adven… our ſelves upon him for Salvation; upon which the fore entioned Union is made. And … doth our Catechiſm. And ſo our following Diſcourſe muſt be reſtrained to this …ely; though it is neceſſary to conſider the things which belong to it in common … …epentance from which Faith is inſepe….
… then, let us obſerve, That as in Converſion, ſo in Effectual Vocation, there are two things that muſt be diſtinctly conſidered.
1. THERE is ſomething habitualy wrought it the man whereby he is capacitated, and d…ſpoſ… … believe in Chriſt. And this is wrought in him together with all the other habits of ſaving …ces, and is that which is in the Scriptures called, the New Creature, 2. Cor. ….17. And this uſually called paſſive Con…ſion, the reaſon whereof will be anon con…ered.
2. THERE is ſomething done actually by the … in the exerting of this power ſo created in him, in which be applies theſe graces or powers i… him, to their Objects, and exerciſeth them; and particularly his Faith, in cloſing with, and …i…, of Jeſus Chriſt exhibited in the pro…, and is in the Goſpel called believing. It i…o former of theſe that our Catechiſm in … Paragraph before us peculiarly ſpeaks to, though as introductory to the latter; in which …al Vocation is compleated: And may therefore be partcularly ſpoken unto. For although it will be too nice, to diſpute whether …act Inſants, dying in their Infancy do, … they dye, actually believe in Chriſt: tho', as to their capacity of having the habits of ſaving Grace wrought in them, there is no queſtion to thoſe that allow them to have in them naturally the habit of original ſin: yet, as to thoſe who have the uſe of reaſon, and are called under the Goſpel diſpenſation, it is not to be denied, but their Vocation determines in their actual exerting of Faith in Chriſt. Hence, theſe are expreſſed together, Mar. 16.15, 16. I ſhall then, firſt ſpeak ſomething to the former in purſuit of the Anſwer before us: And then add a few words to the latter as conſequent on it.
AS to the former, viz. The producing of the habit of Faith in us, we may obſerve,
1. THE Author or Efficient of it; the Spirit of God. It is he alone that do… this Work on the Soul. We obſerved under the former in what reſpect the Work of Application is aſcribed to him. Now this Effectual Vocation properly belongs to the Application; and ſo it cannot be aſcribed to any other Author but him, neither in whole not part. Regeneration therefore in which this is wrought, is hither reſtrained, Joh. 1.13. Which were born, not of blood, n…r of the will of the fl…ſh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And for that reaſon ſuch are ſaid to be born of the Spirit. Chap. 3.6. That he doth make uſe of the Word in this is certain. Hence that, Jam. 1.18. Of his own will beg…t he as with the word of truth. And 1 Pet. 1.23. Being born again, not of corruptible ſeed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God which liveth and abideth for ever. Nor yet are Goſpel-Miniſters excluded from being ſerviceable in their place towards the Converſion and Salvation of Sinners: As, 1 Cor. 4.15. For though ye have ten thouſand inſtructers in Chriſt, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Chriſt Jeſus I have begot ten you through the goſpel. Nor are men themſelves to neglect, but be found in the uſe of means; elſe Ordinances were appointed in vain. We therefore read, Rom. 10.14. How ſhall they call on him in whom they have not believed, and how ſhall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how ſhall they …ear without a preacher. But yet, the efficiency by which this habit is wrought in the Soul, belongs alone to the Spirit of God. For,
1. THE act of Faith doth neceſſarily ſuppoſe the habit of it, or the power of believing. All Acts require a power ſuitable and ſufficient for them; not can any Agent go beyond its ability: no effect can exceed the vertue of its cauſe: ſo that a Man muſt have Faith in order to his exerting it. It belongs therefore to the Character of wicked Men, not to have Faith, 2 Theſ. 3.2.
2. THIS habit of Faith, or power of Believing, is one of the Graces which are wrought in Converſion. And hence muſt have the ſame Author with the reſt. It is therefore enumerated among the Works of the Spirit, Gol. 5.22. And on this account it is particularly aſcribed to God as his Gift. Eph. 2.8. Who is elſewhere called, The God of all Grace, 1 Pet. 5.10.
3. N… Man in his natural fiats hath any Seeds J t…s Faith in him. He is indeed a Subject capable of receiving the Graces of the Spirit, a…d that is all the diſpoſition in him towards Faith. God is able to convert him, and mak… a Believer of him, but then he muſt create and inſuſe it into him. There is an active Principle in him, which may be wrought upon and excited, ſo as to receive the habits of ha…a… Scie…ces, and common Morality; but there is nothing more than a paſſive Power to rece…ve theſe ſupernatural habits of ſaving Grace. When the Spirit comes to quicken them, he ands them dead, Eph. 2.1. Believing is called coming to Christ; and ſo, a Power of coming is the habit of Faith, but to natural Man hath it, till God works it in him, john 6.44. This Faith is … of curſelves, Eph 2.8.
4. HENCE, There is n… Co-operation of the man with the pirit in the producing of the habit …f Faith in him. He is a Subject, but not an Agent. He contributes nothing at all to it, but it is wholly put into him by another hand. It is a creaming … and that belongs to God alone, Eph 2.10. it is a Reſummon, and that belongs intirely to the Divine O…nip…tency, Eph. 1.19. It is a Regeneration, and none ever helped to beger himſelf, yea, being a ſpiritual Regeneration, no…e but the Spirit can effect it. 1 Pet. 1.2
5. THE Means themſelves have n… Efficiency in the Production of this habit by moral ſuation. Not but that the Spirit uſeth the Means in order to his bringing ahout this Work in us. E…ckiel was to propheſy in order to the dry Bones living, E…ek. 37.9, 10. The means are properly accommodated to work on Man as a moral Agent, rationally, by evidence or demonſtration, by convictions, awakenings, encouragements, and the Spirit comes with them as he ſees meet, and gives them ſuch an operation. But either their operation is common, and that can at moſt be but preparatory; or it is ſaving, and then it ſuppoſeth this habit in them. Moral ſuation can do only on a Subject capable. Come to the grave of a dead Man, and make never ſo grave an Oration to him, tell him what a miſerable condition a ſtate of Death is, and what benefits accompany the living, and ſo beg of him to riſe and live; and what will this do? There muſt be Faith, to receive Chriſt, e're the endeavours to perſuade Men produce the act of believing on him, and this is an operation more then meerly ethical or moral.
II. THE general Nature of it; it is a Work of the Spirit. It is to be obſerved, that when Divines ſpeak of the things done for us by the Spirit of God in Application, they generally diſtinguiſh between Acts and Works; hence they call Juſtification and Adoption, Acts of the Spirit, whereas they call Effectual Vocation, Sanctification, and Glorification, Works: And the reaſon of this diſtinction is, to point at the difference there is, between the one and the other. For though each equaile proceed from H so as the …, and are equally appl…ed by him to the Ea… the Subjects, yea, and one as well as the other makes a the … on the Subject … which they are applied, yet there is a … diference between them, which is as … as in this.
1. THE ſor…er is lose at once, whereas … better uncorrect in by degrees. A Work in our common acceptation, doth not cr…act … one …gle Act, but many repeated ones, … go together to put that de…om …. And this may be conſidered either with aſpect to the Agent, or to the Thing i… … which is done. Now Juſti…cation & Adep…in are done at once. When God declare the perſon righte…us, his Juſtification is i…, and when God once puts any into the … of his Children, their Adoption abiden, and is never renewed again. Whereas in the …, there are either many diſtinct things … tained, as in Effectual Calling: for, though the new nature, or the whole body of thing Graces are produced in an Infant, yet, if … conſider the thing intirely, or all that … into this affair, it hath many parts is … there is uſually a gradual proceeding of the Spirit of god in order to it: or elſe they are not begun and perfected at once, but … ried on to more and more perfection, in … ceſtion of time, as in Sanctification and … rification, 2 Pet. 3.18. But grow in gr…, and in the know edge of our L…rd and S…ou…s … Chriſt. 1 Cor. 13.1…. For now we ſee th…gh a glaſs dark…, but then ſace to face: … know in …, but then ſhall I know ce…l are known.
2. THE former make only a relative … on the perſon, but the latter make a real … in his very nature. So that in the … is only a change of the eſtate, in the … of the nature. And ſo that is better … by an act; in which the relation is make, and the ſtate altered; and the other by a … which leaves ſomething behind it, which … a man another manner of perſon than … before. Such is this work of Effectual … becauſe it leaves the man wholly changed … what it found him, when it was to be … in him. Which will evidently appeartance diſtinct view of it. Hence,
III. THE ſpecial Nature of this Work, …ſcribed by the things that are particularly … in the bringing of it about. In the … whereof we may make this general … viz. That the Spirit of God, in the Ca…ing of Sinner bone to Chriſt, doth not deal with the, as with a stock or ſt…ne, but as a reaſon… ture; and accordingly applies himſelf to … and leaves ſuch impriſſons upon him, of … ſuited to ſuch an Agent; and uſeth ſuch … aa are agreeable to the nature of it. According we are there told.
1. WHAT is the aim or deſign of Eſ… Calling, viz. to bring the man to c…brace … Chriſt, with a true Faith in him. That is theſe in with him for Life and Solvantion, according to the tenor of the Goſpel Covenant, which is by cordially believing on him.
2. WHAT …dent by the Spirit of God in the …ging of …as about.
1. EXTERNALLY: viz. He afters Chriſt in the Goſpel. Under which is comprehended all the Treaty that is uſed with men, in and by the means of Grace. In which he ſhews … their need of Chriſt, his ſufficiency, the way in which they may come by an intereſt in him, and all the Arguments uſed with …rs to perſwade them to accept of him.
2. INTERNALLY: In which he more p…rly applies himſelf to, and deals with the two ſuperiour faculties of the Soul, the Underſtanding and Will, to gain the aſſent of the one, and conſent of the other; to win the one to approve of, the other; to elect Je…s Chriſt, for the Object of his truſt and …ience.
(1.) He appſies himſelf to the Underſtanding, and accordingly ſuits himſelf to it. And that, [1.] AT way of Conviction. And there are two taines which this is directed to, viz. … and Miſery: which points to the ſtate which the apoſtaſy brought men into; of which we have formerly conſidered; and though all the ſtages whereof, the Spirit … the man, and affects him therewithal. And this is that which by many is called … Work, becauſe by it the man is laught to ſee his need of Chriſt, to be a Savant to him. And under it are comprized all things which Divines aſſign to the Souls preparation for Chriſt. [2.] AT way of ſaving Illumination. He …as it, &c. in which Chriſt is diſcoved as him as a ſuitable & all-ſufficient Sa…. So that in it he is led into a ſweet d…y of the whole Work of Redemption. O… which alſo we have had an account. And this is called the renewing of the Underſtanding.
(2.) HE applies himſelf to the Will, by a ſeeing Charge made on it; in which it is alſo …, by ſubduing the old habits & diſpoſitions th… were in it; and putting of gracious … in the room of them. Which yet at firſt is done in part.
3. WHAT is the effect wrought in the man by thoſe Operations. We are perſwaded and … to embrace Jeſus Chriſt: i. e. the … Soul it put into a poſture and readineſs for …ting of the act of Faith, which follows …. For there is now a power and in… in him thus to do. Theſe are the principal heads of this Work, which call for a … particular inſpection; only in order … to prevent miſtakes, and doing wrong … …cious Souls, let two things be premiſed,
1. THAT although, the thing that is wrought by the ſpirit in this Work, is one & the ſame in all, yet … …ſeth an arbitrary liberty in the Circumſtance of the Work. He doth by one and the … introduce into the Soul that Principle which is called the New-Creature; one principal member whereof it Faith. But yet in his dealings with the Souls of men about it, he acts not alike in all. And as to the Experiences of gracious Souls, they are various on this account. Nor is the method to be limited to any one's particular obſervation in himſelf. We read, Joh. 3.8. The w…nd b…weth where i…ſtoth, and then he areſt the ſound thereof, but canſt not tell whence it cometh, and whether a go…th; ſo is every one that is born of t…e Spirit. In ſome he makes ſhorter work by the Means, others he holds longer under Awakenings, Terrors, &c. Some are drawn to Chriſt more gently, others more terribly; and all this according as he pleaſeth. And it will be a great injury to the Souls we are concerned with, if we be rigid here.
2. THAT there are many debates among the Orthodox, about Preparatory Work. Whether there be any ſuch Work; and if there be, whether it is a common or ſaving Work; or whether there be any ſaving diſpoſitions pet into the Soul before Faith. But I hope theſe Controverſies are for the moſt part, rather about the terms, than the thing. Give me leave then here to offer a few things to conſideration, which may poſſibly be helpful to reconcile thoſe differences, and give a right ſtate of the Affair.
(1.) ALL the Orthodox conſent, that there muſt be a new power put into the man, in order to his believing in Chriſt. That a man can no more of himſelf come up to the terms of the New-Covenant, then keep the law of the firſt Covenant. They that deny this, are unacquainted with the efficacy of the Apoſtaſy, or energy of Original Sin in man. Philoſophy tells us, that life Actions requires life in the Agent. And ſpiritual Actions muſt derive from a ſpiritual Life; gracious Actions muſt flow from Grace. Call this an habit, or a vertus, or a principle; it muſt be an ability to do theſe things, which it had not naturally, but muſt be given it. Hence that, Gal. 5.25. If we live in the Spirit, let us alſo walk in the Spirit. And, Mat. 7.18. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit: neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
(2.) THAT this power or ebility, can be produced by no other, but the Spirit of God. And that becauſe it requires Omnipotency, to the producing it; and there is none Almighty but he. None but he that could make a World, bring light out of darkneſs, raiſe the dead, can do this. All of which are in Scripture made the ſhadows and reſemblances of it. And indeed the Spirit of God in thoſe Works, finds only impotency in the ſubject, but no reſiſtance; whereas here he meets with, not only a total debility in the creature to join with him in it, but alſo a maligrant oppoſition to it; there being nothing which the heart of man is more averſe to, then coming to Chriſt, and believing in him: that being every man's diſpoſition in himſelf Joh. 5.40. And ye will not come to me that ye might have life.
(3.) THAT the Spirit of God in order to the producing of this, …ſeth means with Sinners. This hath already been intimated, and may be afterwards more particularly inquired into. And it is certain, that theſe means are not only uted with the Called, to excite Faith in them to its operation, but alſo for the begetting of Faith in the Elect; as in the Scripture before inſtanced. And what doth this ſay, but that together with the preaching of the Goſpel, and the Goſpel preached, the Spirit comes, and applies efficaciouſly to the Soul, whereby the means become effectual to Regeneration.
(4.) THAT in and with theſe means be applies himſelf to men as reaſonable Creatures. When we ſay men are paſſive in Regeneration, we do not intend, than they are treated as brutes, that have no underſtanding: but as men that can rationally entertain the literal notions of things preſented to them, and receive conviction of the truth & reaſon of the theſe things, and acting as reaſonable creatures hereupon. Though yet, the depravation of their natures hath diſabled them from uſing theſe powers graciouſly. And were it not ſo, to what end is the Goſpel written, ſo as to be accommodated for this purpoſe? or why are God's Miniſters ſent, to treat with unregenerate finners about it, 2 Cor. 5.20. Now then we are ambſſſadours for Chriſt, as though God did beſeech you by us; we pray you in Chriſt's ſtead, be ye reconciled to God.
(5.) THE Spirit of God addreſſeth himſelf … thoſe means, to others, beſides theſe whom he effectually calleth. He knows who are his, but Miniſters know not, and ſo are to plead hard with all; and the Spirit with them, makes many offers to ſuch Souls; and ſo they are ſaid to reſiſt and quench the Spirit: Though often ſuch have contritions, compunctions, convictions, &c which yet never iſſue in the new birth. Mat. 13.20. But he that received ſeed into stony places, the ſame in he that heareth the word, and an…n with joy receiveth it. Heb. 6.4, 5. Who were once enlightened and have taſted of the heavenly gifs, and were made partakers of the holy Ghost. And have taſted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come.
(6.) BECAUSE the Spirit doth the ſame things in the Elect, which in themſelves & alone, are common, and to be ſound in others: Hence in this reſpect Preparatory Work is by ſome counted common, even in the Elect. And who knows, but that he may begin with ſuch things as theſe, and they may ſuppreſs and get over them many a time, before he comes indeed to Convert them, or before he infuſeth Grace into them.
(7.) IF by Preparatory Work we understand, the preparing and diſpoſing the Perſon for actual Believing, it is doubtleſs a ſaving Work. As it is wrought in none but the Elect, ſo it is itſelf a paſſive Converſion, or the new-Creation in the Soul. It is the very paſſing from death to life, 1 Joh. 2.14. which is always in the Adult, followed with actual believing: it being done for this very end and purpoſe; and queſtionleſs, it puts forth ſome act as … as produced, not always ſo diſcernable by the Believer.
(8.) HENCE, Though there may be ſ… Qualifications in the Soul, before the act of F… be diſcerned, yet there are none before the … of Faith is wrought. This is in order of N… before the other, that being … effect of this. And it is very certain, that all ſaving Qu… fications are at once infuſed into the …, upon the great Work wrought by the Spirit in him, when he forms Chriſt in him, a… end … him with the new Nature.
[NOVEMBER 23. 1697.]