S a c r.X I I. ofEffetlrsal Calling. g 85 world;TheJews they'werecalled at the 9th hour,the Gentilesthey werecalled at the I zrh,yet God giveth the fame Heaven to both, that is the proper meaning of that Parable.Indeed we have an inftanceof one,and butofonecalled at the endof his days, the Thiefon theCroffe, ofwhom eluflins obfervation is obvious;There is one, that none Ihoulddefpair, thinking it impoffible for him to be converted, who bath put off this worktill death bath arrefted him : and yet it is but one, that nonemay prefume : Of many men that havepoifoned themfelves it may be onedoth recover, butthis would be no encouragement to thee tofwallow down poifon : Howmany dreadful) and fad examples mailt thou fee and hear of thofe who as they lived wickedly,fo died as defperately ? Howfoever therefore Gods calling bevarious, to Tome fooner, to fome later, yet happy are they who are called out of fine betimes in their younger years they have leffe wounded theirconfciences, diíhonouredGod, and theyhave the longer time to do him fervice, and the bell fervice : Oh how happy is itwhen the daies of thy youth havebeen filled with the ftrength and power of God ! Oh therefore that the younger fort of people, would expecland look after thiscall of God I Do not think its for old menready to drop in the grave, for them only to repent, and to leave offtheir fins, but you muff enjoy the pleafures and lufts of youth : Oh Remember thy Creator in the dayes of thy youth : When God cals thee in thy tender years, thouwilt not then make thofefad fhipwracksof thyfoul, asothers doe. In the next place confider, The infírament of Gods Call, and that is the free- In IfiI Inc? thing of the Word. You may fay,Where BothGod call,' and when do. h hecall, mey,. wehave no immediatevoice from Heaven (peaking co us, How then canthis be? Gods word. The anfwer is, God calsyouby the Miniflers, we are Embaffadors coming in his nameto you ; fo that you who refute them (peaking the wordof God, you refuteGod himfelfcalling to you. They are the voiceof God crying, Prepare ye a way forthe Lord; fo that every Sabbath -day God cals you by theMiniflers, and you that think that if you fhould have an immediatevoice fromHeaven cal- ling to you, then you would obeyand fubmit ; know you would not do it, if you refute the word of God delivered to you by the Minifiry : Our Saviour Paid, That they lobo would not believe Mofes, nor the Prophets, neither mouldifone fhould rife from thedead, and come unto thorn,. Luk. 16.29. It is neither our cal- lingor fpeaking, but Chrift by us that you refute and contemn; and how great and farteyour jadgement will be who negleft this great falvation, the Scripturebids every man thinkwithin himfelf, Heb.a.3. Indeed thereare many things havea voice tocall us betides theWord ; TheHeavens and all the crea- tures are fo many tongues calling unto us; The rod ofaf liftion, that bath a voice, Th0 creatures and we are commanded to hear whatthat (peaks; but thepreachingof the word affli Lions. that is the powerfull voice , and the immediate motions and infpirationsof the Spirit accompanying it, thefe give life and quickning in (peaking : Thatas God bath a voiceof the Trumpet and the Archangel, to rafflemen from thedead ; fo he bath altoof theWord, tomite menout of their fecurity in finning. Thus you have theefficient and infirumentai caufe of Gods calling. Many prafticall UCes maybemade ofthis : As Firft, Tomagnifie and adore the loveof God tomankinde, that dochvouch- Vfe. fafefuch a gracious andmerciful call toman fallen. This is more then be bath done tothe Apoflate Angels, He6.2.s6. Towhich of them bath he appointed a word of Miniflery and Reconciliation ? not only the Prieft and theLevite, but eventhe good Samaritanbath pattedby thefe, and taken no notice ofthem: yea come we toman, Is therenot farce the greater number ofmankinde,that though they havea witnefs enough tocondemn them, yet have not the external offer andcall ofGod ? Thename ofChrrft and faith bathnot founded within their wafts ; yea comewedoter ßi11, Howmany thoufands and thoufands are there whohave theoutward tail, but areWholly deftituteof the inward call? t4dw Ffff if
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