S s c T. XII. of EfeelualCalling. bath had this compaffaon and pity on thee t Alas ! God from alleternity had a purpofe to bethusgracious unto thee; when thou hadft nobeing at all, long beforethe foundations of the worldwere laid, God had thoughts of love and kindenefsto thee, when thou couldlt not delire or beg for fuch a mercy : Its nowonder that Pauldothoften, runout in large espreffions concerning Gods Love, his Predeftination from all eternity, when hebath occafionto prade God forthe calling and converfionof any in time for this is to trace the flream, till we finde the well-head : This is, as it was with Ezeliels waters, togo from wa- ters that rife up to theankle, at laft to that which will cover the head : What canthenbe able to difcourage the heart of a godly man? what can difquiet? Here is a Catholicon forall difeafes a Art thou aided ? God bath called thee from all eternity ? Art thou defpifedby men ? God efteemed ofthee from the beginning of the world. Secondly, Itsan holy calliegt This is a frequent adjective; fo that there is 2. nothing in this calling, but what comes from an holy God : Thematter ofit is holy, and the end altogether holy ; infomuch , that all prophane,ungodly men fhould blufh to own this profeflìon : Thou art called to be a Saint, to be in the world, as a bright fiar ina dark night; But , is to be proud, cove- tous, prophane, malicious ? is this tobe a Saint? Oh how thouId our bowels cowl within us, to fee howGod is difhonored, his Laws are broken, and that by thofe, who glory in the call of a Chriftian I Oh let not filch goofs fins be any more pradifed or named amongyou! As in theTemple, every veffel was holy, fo every part of thy foul and body (hall be holy ; an holy minds, holy thoughts, holy affections, holy eyes, an holy tongue, an holy body :- Thycal- ling being thus an holy calling, all within thee, andall thatfloweth from thee, Ihould allo be holy. Thirdly, Its an heavenly calling : Whether you do regard theefficient taufe, Gódfrom heaven calls to there dry bones to live; if the matter of it, it is tobe heavenly in our converfations ; togo through this world as pilgrims, to be as the fowls of theheaven, which thoughthey pitch upon theground for their food, yet they prefently fly up to heaven: The priviledges are heaven- ly, pardon of fin,affuranee of Gods favor, increafe ingrace, communion with God, and enjoyingof God in heaven for ever. We fee how Davidprized being fon in Law to a King : There are callings CO great ,outward glory in this world ; but God vouchfafeth a greatermercy to thofe who have thisheavenly c311ing. Fourthly, Its anhighcalling, Phil.3.14. The Apoftle there compareth himfelf : in theprogrefs of Chriftianity,to one (hiving and running in race,here fhould be no dulnefsno wearifomnefs in thisway ;nowas in tholerace ,theywho judged fate in an highplace, and by an "Herald called out every man to run; fo he faith, God from heaven callsout every man to make hafte in this way of god- linefs ; fo that thou art to hear him from heaven, calling thee topreis forward, to think nothingis yet done, as long as fo much remaineth behinde; and if they were fo earnefl fora corruptible crown, howmuctrrather Ihould we for an incorruptible? Laftly, Its a calling difpenfed in a very contrary way to humane expeáation; whichmakes that Doitrine of Coogruavocatio to fall to the ground : Tot fee your calling (faith Paul) not many wife, not many noble are called, but he bath called the foolifhand weak thingsof the world, to confound the wife: HereinGod s Cor;taßt bath manífeftedhis dreadful power, and glorious wifdom; Ir bath not been of him thatrnnnéth, or willed!, but of him that callerh, that fo there mightbe no gloryingor boaftirhg in the armof flefh : If you confider who they are that God huhcalled in all ages, they have not been the learned men, the greatmen, thewife menof the world, but the poor and the contemptible ; fome,indeed, there have been, therefore he faith, Notmany, which implyeth fome : f o iian Gggg a objected 595
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