310 An Expófition upon Chap.8'. caufe it is taught, that whom God pre- faith in the Gofpell ; whereby a man is deftinatetb, them he calleth, juftifieth, carryed to Chrift himfelf to be planted and glorifieth. Thus unlikely it is,that in him, and joyned to him as a true predeftination fhould exclude Chrift, member,and to be governed by his Spi- the Gofpel,Faith, Calling, Juftificati- rit,ivorkingin us obedience to our cal- on,Hol ineffe of life, as it doth include ling. Of this calling our text fpeaks. and inferse all there neceffarily. The T i M. What infirz iionsaretobelearned reafon hereof is, becaufe it is whole- from thin which bath been faid of calling? lamely t,.ught andbeleeved, according S i L. Firft, how needtull a thing to Scripture, that God predeftinating it is for us to have the Gofpel and the unto the end,hath alfo fore-ordained to preaching thereof, Peeing perfons of the means wh,icffi bring us unto fuch an years are not ordinarily called unto end,and that immutably and moll free- the faith ofChrift without it, Rom. to. ly. And therefore it is a groffe error to fay this Do&rine breedeth either de- fpetation or licentioufneffe. T i M. What it here meant by Calling? S t a. It is that mean or work of God, wherein is eternal love inpre- deflinating us unto eternal life, Both ft appear and thew it felf unto us, r till the time ofour Calling,the de- cree of predeftination is fecret and hid- den in Gods counfel : but by our Cal- ling, it is made known to the dea t hem felves.For if God do call all thofe in time, whom he ordained to life be- fore all times, then fuck as be called, may thereby know they are predefti- nated, as the caufe may be known by theeffe &, the root by the fruit, the f,}tntain by the river,fo Gods eternal k vc by Calling. T i at. [et if is written, Mat. 20. i6. That many are calledbut few chofen; whereby it fhouldfeetn,that calling it no fare mark, o f eletiion,andpredeftination unto glory. S i t. It is true, there is an outward calling by the Gofpel only, which wants the inward grace of the Spirit,to make it effe &ual ; this is common to many reprobates, and is no Pure token of ele &ion, becaufe it brings no further then to the bare knowledge and profef- fion ofChrift,and to fome general and flcight reformation, fuch as an hypo- crite may have;but not to Chrift him- Pelf by faith in the Gofpel.But the cal - ling,which is both a fruit,and acertain n ate of predeftination, is fuch a calling, which together with the outward prea- ching of the word , bath the inward working ofthe holy Spirit, to beget i ç. Secondly, that no Chriftian mutt rat in an outward generall calling and knowledge (though it be .a great mer- cy)but ftrivè and labour after that and effe &ual calling,whfch is ever coupled with faith and obedience to the Gofpel. Thirdly,fuch as have this cal- ling, have exceeding caufe to rejoyce and be glad,and to be thankful to God; becaufe they have received an undoub- ted pledge of Gods love and their own falvation,in fuck fort as they may glo- ry in God,yea even in tribulations. T i M. But what (ball we think, of In- fants that cannot bear the Gofpell,cannot they have an a ffe ital calling? S i L. Yeas all predeflinate Infants (and filch we are to take all the Infants of Chriftian Parents to be, for that they belong to the Covenant, and we know nothing to the contrary,) they have an inward calling by the Spirit, though not after the fame ,manner, as perlons ofdifcretion and years.For the Apoftle here (peaks of the means, how all the cleft are brought to bleffed- neffe : therefore Peeing Infants are pr'e- deftinate, as no doubt many be, they mull of neceífity be juftified and have a calling.For whom he predeftinateth, them be calletb,&c.It is fome unutterable and unconceivable work of the holy Ghoft, drawing them to Chrift, or fomething which hath Analogie or proportion with faith. T t M. What it the inf rullion that ari- feth from hence ? S t t. That the ele& Infants which dye in their infancy, are endued with a truefaith ; for this is the end of calling to
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