236 SIXTH SERMON persuaded unto the obedience of it in the ministry of the gospel ; in which sense our Saviour saith, " Many are called, but few chosen," Matt. xx. 16. and unto those who refuse to come unto him that they might have life, he yet saith, These things I say that you might be saved," John v. 34. 40. Others are called, ordained first unto eternal life by the free love and grace of God, and then thereunto brought by the execution of that his decree and purpose in the power- ful calling and translating them from darkness unto light. And this is to be called according unto pur- pose, Rom. viii. 28. namely, the purpose and counsel of showing mercy to whom he will show mercy, Rom. ix. 18. VI. They who are called, only as the hen calletli her chickens, with the mere outward call or voice of Christ in the evangelical ministry, may and do resist this call, and so perish : Chorazin, and Bethsaida, and Capernaum, were outwardly called by the most powerful ministerial means that ever the world en- joyed, both in doctrine and miracles ; and yet our Saviour tells them that they shall be in a worse con- dition in the day of judgment than Tyre, Sidon, or Sodom, Matt. xi. 21. 24. So the prophet complains, " Who hath believed our report ? or to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed ?" Isa. liii. 1. Which the evan- gelist applies unto the argument of conversion, John xii. 37. 40. for so the hand or arm of the Lord is said to be with his ministers, when by their ministry men do turn to the Lord, Acts xi. 21. And the same prophet again, or Christ in him, complains, " All the day long have I stretched forth my hands unto a dis- obedient and gainsaying people," Isa. lxv. 2. Rom. x. 21. So disobedient and gainsaying, that we find
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=