S a c r.X I I. of .&fec7xal Calling. g 83 which fenfeevery one isbid co continue in the calling he it called itntò, ï Cor o 7. . Secondly, Forany fpiritual futíon oroffice in the Church. Thus theApo- Rlefhip is oftenRiled a Calling.' And la[ìly, for that grace ofGod whereby hecalsus out oftheRate ofigno rance,Paganifm and prophanenefe, to a flare of truth, godlineffe'and' glory ; which is either meetlyexternal,vouchfafedeven to hypocrites and reprobates; or internai,beftowedon the godly only ; and this the Apoítle meaneth in the Text. Fromwhence obferve, That MOMGod bath predeftinatedfrom all eternity, and Wi.11'glorifie in the World 06ferv. tocome, hedoch in thir.lifepowerfully call outoftheir fins,andIgnorance. As they are regenerated, or converted, fothey are a called people: I (hall firft treat ofthis powerful calling which thegodly onely have : And to confider this diftinftly, let us open the nature of it t..Inrefpeft oldie efficient caufe. Efreauäl Vo- 2. The inftrumental. cation Opened. 3. The nature of it. In the efficient 4. The terms from whence we are called, and towhich we arecalled. candc God. And for the efficient Coale, God is he that calleth uswith thispowerful' live* r, ly calling : and herein confider, Fich, The omnipotent.power and flrength of God, Who by hie Word can make fach a Wonderful change; He dotti but call, and man who is naturally fuch an enemy and adverfary to what is good, doch prefently become a friend ; fo that the Scri- ptureexprefiing this work ofconverfion, doth therein allude to Gods Creation at firR, whenby his Word all things were made, he laid, Let there be light, and thereWat light ; Verba Deifrog opera, (aid Luther, Gods wordsare works ; this made theApoftle fay, He talleth thole things that are not, as if they were; a Cor.t. Gods call gives a ready being to thole things that had no exiftency at all before. So that herein is declared the loveraign power of God ; God at the fidt Creationcalled for thole things to appear which lay in the dark womb of nothing, and they prefently cameout ; Even as if a Matter fhould give a call to hisfervent who Rands in the next room ready to receivehiscommands. Behold then and admire at the`great power of God, who bath made this wonderfull change on thee. ChriR did no foonercall from Heaven to Paul, but heprefent- ly anfwers, Lord, ,What Wilt thouhave me to do ? So that Gods call even to the deaf is not invain, becaufeat thefame timehe giveth ears tohear. Oh then let the godly confider, How comes grace, any godly affedions or deliresto be in thy heart ? It had been impollible for fuch things to lodge in thy foul, hadnot God given this mighty call, laying, Let therebe faith, repentance,godly forrow; and prefently there is. Secondly, Take notice of the fullfafciency' and happinefeof God, Who thou eats i thee.to communion with him. It is not for any want or indigency, thatday by day he thus calsand invites thee cocome in : No, God is blefled, and allfufflcient: had henot çreatedAngels, or the vifible world, he had been gloriould happy in theenjoying of himfelf, buiyet o.c of his goodnefs he is willing to invite and call inmen, that they allo may be made happy ; ChriR in his Parable ex- prelfed this, ,when he lint out his fervants to invite men unto the feaR, and when they refilledthen he lent for the lameand blinde, Lnk;rq.zo. fuch as he couldhave no need of, but they did exceedingly need him ; and fo there is no day that God lends .us his fervantsto invite you to this Ipiritual feaR, but this confideraLion (houldwound thee and make thee a(hamed : Oh why Both God thuscall tee ? Why am I dins invited? Is not God happyand glorious enough? though Iperilla and be damned inmy fins ? What it man, Lord, and the fount of man that rhos fhouldflbe thoumineofull ofhim ? as ifGod could not be a God; a happy, bleffed God, re nlefs thou alfowert brought intohappiriels.' Third-
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