2.2 2- II. Quefttons, andCafes ofConfcience attend upon the fame. Its called the Minifßry of reconciliation, 2 Cor. 5.z 8. the Gofpel or Peace, Eph. 6.15. the word ofgrace, A&s 14. 3. r3. 32. the Word of Life, Phil. z. 16. A&s 13 z6. the word of falvation : theICingdome ofGod, Mat. 13. 44 by which we arebrought into theKingdome ofgrace and glory. Heavenly feed, r Cor. 4.15: whence Minifters are called fpirttual Fa- thers, 1 Cor. 3. z. Its milkfor Babes, and ifrong meat for men, Heb. 5.12. Its a rulefor our lives, Deut. 5. 32. Jof.r. $. A Lamp tooter feet, Fi c. Pfal. 119, 105. the Sword of theSpirit, Eph. 6. 17. Fourthly, the Word is that heavenly light that Ihines to us. when we are in dackaeffe, whereby our blindeeyes arc illuminated co fee, and finde the way to_Heaven, Luke t; 79 CAI at. 5.14. Alts 13.47. Fifthly, its the meanes to beget faith, without which its impoff;ble tobe fa= ved, Eph. a. 8. Heb. s .6. John 1.12. and 3. 16, S. Rom. io. 17. I Tim. 4.16. Quell. But if once we beconverted, what need, we hear fooft ?; Anf.Firff,negle&of GodsWord.is a manife¡t fign that we are not truly convert- ed, John 3.9.7, and 1o. 3, 4,, 27, they which have grace cannot but be ravifh- ed'with the excellency of the Word. Secondly, the Word is the food of our foules, whereby we are nourifhed,' and the graces of GodsSpirit ffrengthened inus : and the want of it is a great judgement, Amos 8. s r, 52. , Thirdly, though hehave attained toknowledge enough : yet we muff hear to quickenus topra Lice , to reformour affe&ions, to nouri¡h our graces : yea,its profitableto teach, to reprove, &c, that the manofGodmay be perfea, &c. 2 Tim. 3.16. z Cor. n4.3. therefore with David, we fhouldde(ire to dwell in thehoufe of GodPfal. z7.4. Mr. DownhamsChriflianWarfare ueff. ViThetber is not our Vocation or Calling all one with our SanElif- cation ? Anfw. No : For 1. Our Vocation is before Juflification, Rom.8.3o. but San&ification is not before Juftification : therefore they are not the fame. Secondly, San&ification is the end of Vocation, 1 Thef. 4.7. therefore its not all onewith ir. Thirdly, faith is the principal thing in Vocation: the firft part of it being Gods Call ; the fecond parr beingour anfwer to thatCall, or comingin at that Call, Jer 3.22. 'Now faith is nopart ofSan&ification tirietly taken, becaufe its the means and inffrument of our Juftification and San&ification, vÌEîs 26. 13. Hence our hearts are faid to be purified by faith, Alfa 15. 9 Gal. 2. 20. John 5.24. we pafl'efromdeath to life by faith, there- fore its no part ofour fpiritual life, as faith comes byhearing, and therefore hear- ing is nopart of Faith : fa Juftification comesby Faith, and therefore irs no part ofSan&ification. Queft. T'Vhat is the nature of theCall of god ? Anfw. Concerning this Call, I ¡hall lay down thefe Propofitions. Firft, our Vocationor Calling is ever by fome word or voice, either outward or inward, or bath : either ordinary, or extraordinary : by the Mini*ry of men, or by the immediate infpirations, or vifionsofGod . Secondly, this i+oice in the ordinary callingofthe. Elea, isnot by the voiceof the Law, but by thevoiceofthe Gofpel, bringingglad tidings, written by the A- pofiles, and preached tothe world, John 20.35. 1 Cor. r. 21. with 26. The Spirit indeedinwardly accompanies the voice of the Gofpel, but now noneare calledby the immediate voiceof the Spirit without the Gofpel, orby the imme- diate teftimonyof the Spirit, breathed out offreegrace without the Word, Eph. IcI2,13. Thirdly,
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=