362 An Expofition upon S r L. Becaufe the Apo file fearching, for a true teftimony of ele &ion, mutt needs mean that inward calliñg which is wrought by the Spirit effe&ually,fee- ing this is proper to the ele &, being a certain and neceffary fruit of elation. Whereas the outward calling which is by she word only, without inward faving grace, is common both to the ele& and reprobate : (as it is written) Many are called, few chofen; and as by the parable of the Sower appeareth Matth. 13. T r M. What is the Dc£lrine from the firft part of this verfe S r L. That an effe &uall calling unto Chrift by the Spirit, is unto the children of God, a fure witneffe of their ele &ion. T r M. How may it appear that this Do- drine Both arife from hence? S r L. Thus : Paul had mentioned, verf. 23. [veffels ofmercy.] Now plain- ly by way of expofition he tels us who they be, (even us who are called :) by our calling then we are to judge of our ele &ion,whether we be veffels pre- pared unto glory,or no. T r M. Prove this Doiirine by authority of Scripture,andftrength r o f reafon. S i L. Firft,it may be proved by theft Scriptures, Rom. 8. 3o. Whom he bath predeftinated, them he bath called; alfo verf. 28. and Rom. 9. 11. and z Pet. t. 1 o. Ele &ion, purpofe,and calling, are often put together,as caufes and effe &s, roots andfuits.Secondly, reafon pro - veth it :$or Peeing God efle&ually cal - leth allwhom he eternally predeftina- teth,and none others ; therefore calling mutt needs be a manifeftation of pre- deftination to glory. Secondly, if the Gofpel be the revelation of Gods gra- cious purpofe for the Paving of the elea by Chrift,2 Tim. r. 9, ro. therefore to have this grace offered by the Gofpel, and truly to receive it by an effe &uall callingoftheSpirit, mull needs be an evidence and declaration of the good will and purpofe of God towards man. Thirdly, the end ofa true calling is to bring us unto faith, w.h is an infallible note of ele&ion, Tit. 1. r. All. 14. joh 3 Laftly, Chap. 9, Summe. Interpre- tation. fitly follow the former Dofirine of predefti- nation ? S r L. Very fitly : for Paul having proved, that God doth molt freely elea fome and not others,becaufe of his own will, hereof queftion might be moved, how we might knowwho are ele&ed Whereunto the Apoftle fecretly an- fwereth, that ele &ion is manifefted in our vocation unto Chrift by the Gofpel. Calling is the manifeftation and evidence ofele&ion. T 1 M. Give us now the fum of this verfe ? S r L. thus much it is : whofoever he be ( Jew or Gentile) that is called of God, and obeyeth the Caller, thereby he knoweth and declareth himfelfto be an ele& perfon, even a veffel of mercy prepared unto glory. T r M. What be the parts of this verfe? S r L. Two : Firft,it mentioneth the true fign of Ele &ion; namely, our cal- ling. Secondly,who they be to whom this calling appertains (not the Jewes only,but the Gentiles alto.) T r M. What is meant by Calling? Si L.Notageneral outward calling, but an inwardand efpeciall calling, ac- cording to the purpofe of ele &ion, as Rom.8.28,29,30. T r M. What is that you term a generall calling? Si L. A bare Upvitation or inciting unto Chaff, by the preaching of the word founding in the ear, which draw- eth men no further then to the know- ledge and profeffion ofChrift,attd at ut- moft to a flight reformation of life, without any found renewing of the heart: as in Herod, Judas, Simon Ma- gus, &c. T 1 M. What is a fpeciall calling? S 1 L. Thedrawingofthe ele& un- to true faith in Chrift, by the mighty work of the Spirit in the heart, which both enlightneth the minde diftin&Iy to know the dp&rine of falvation, as it is taught in holy Scripture and boweth the will to embrace it readily,joyfully, and to begin to obey it. unfeignedly. Ephe(. r. T r Da. Why do ye think that this calling is meant here,rather then the former? I D.u, Real 4
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