592 Of EfeF.fual Calling. - s,8 e T.xi1. external,inlightningall without us; and the otherinternal,inlightning ie m nth de and foul of a man. In darknefs there is, firs, Tattler of flnmdling andfall ; á man knoweth not where he goeth : Thus, while not effectuallycalled, men areready to fall into bell every Rep they take; they fee not the hell that is open to devour them, they do they know not what. And Secondly, In darknefs There is great ancomfartablewefs: The Scripture ex- preffeth mifery, and gloomy calamities, under the name ofDarknefs and cer- tainly the life of every unconverted man, is a very uncomfortable life; for thoughhe may have carnal, tranlient pleafures, like the blaze of thorns, yet he bath no induring joy : The very name of death and a day of judgement , is like Brlfhazzars Hand - writingon the wallto him, it puts him into trembling and quaking : But this effcftual calling of God, bath thecontrary to thele, its direltive to a mans Reps ; heknoweth how to live, howtodye; he know- eth how to abound, how to want : The word of God being his Counfellor, giveth bins wife, fife, and holy counfel ; and hereupon he is never confound- ed, he is never fallen into the pit unlefs when he forfakes this light : And then for the fecond effest of comfort, they are called To rejoyce, and again to rejoyce, Phil.3.I. they are called To peace With God, Phil 4.4. to ferenity in their ownconfciences, like the upper Religionthat is not difturbed by any Meteors; infomueh, that it is both a fin, and a great difhonor unto our holy calling, for a godly man to live indifconragements and dejeftions: Its as if there werenot that comfort, that happinefs, that joy in poffefling of God, as the Scripture informs us. z. Secondly, We are called from a Way of prophanenefs and ungodlinefs, to live Flom ungodly pure and holy lives: Thus the Apofle, God hash not called us touncleannef,6ut so bolt' flues. unto holinefs, I Theff.4.7. By Vncleannefs, he means anygrofs fins ; infomuch, that none can conclude he is partaker of this Divine Calling, that (till wallow- eels in the filthy lofts of fin. Oh thenwhat terror fhould this firike into every prophane man 1 If I am thus ungodly, I amnot effectually called ; if not cal- led, Icannot be juflified, I cannot be glorified: How then dare I live as I do ? bath God called me to live like a beaft ? is it not faid, That we are Saints by calling, not wicked and ungodly by calling? Oh flume and confound thy foul; laying, Wherebath God called thee to lye, to (wear, to beproud,cove- tous ? it cannot be lamented enough, to fee how Chriftians forget the nature of their Holy Calling: Fattenand fix this meditationupon your hearts; how cloth this wickednefs and diffolutenefs of mine, confift with my calling? The Apoftle exhorts, That they Would Walk worthy of their vocation, Ephef4.r. do anionsbefeeming fach an holy, heavenly priviledge; therefore thou fhouldit always reflect on thy felf, Paying, How doth this agree with my calling? howBoth this become my calling ? Amin grown up to years, will notRill ufe his chi Ida tricks, he faith, it becomes not his gravity ; howmuch rather mayef thou fay, Such follies, lulls, donot become my Chrifianity? This is tomake my felf a monger, andfpiritually deformed. 3 Thirdly, Gods call is from allour former Ways of idolatry, fuperflition, or falfe From faire Wérfhip, to thepure and commanded Worfhipof God: All men by nature are faid worship :° To walkaccording to the courfe of this World, Ephef 2.2. but the godly arecon. vetted from ferving their dumb Idols: Thus 46raham, God calls him from his own Land, a place of idolatry, to ferve him. Gods people are called Tocome out of Egypt andBabylon, that they mightWorflriphim according to his own Way The Churches name is Ecclef:a, A company called together to ferve and wor- lhipGod ; now who (hall prefcribe that worfhip, but God himfelf? not the fervants, but the matter of the houle, mull let down the orders to bekept therein; lo that thepure and fpiritual worfhipping of God, is one mainend of' our tilling ; for Godwould halmafelee company out of the world, who . Mould
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