Chapter 13. Exhorting to the Heavenly Calling
2. Labour to clear this to your own souls, that you are savingly called, 2 Peter 1.10. Give diligence to make your calling sure. This is the great business of our lives, to get sound evidences of our effectual calling. Acquiesce not in outward privileges, do not cry as the Jews, The Temple of the Lord; rest not in Baptism; what is it to have the Water, and want the Spirit? Be not content that you were born within the sound of Aarons Bells, that Christ hath been preached to you; Satisfy not yourselves with an empty profession; all this may be, and yet you are no better than blazing Comets; but labour to evidence to your souls that you are called of God: Be not Athenians to enquire News, what is the state and complexion of the times? what are the effects of such an Eclipse? what changes are like to happen in such a year? what is all this if you are not effectually called? what if the times should have a fairer aspect? what though glory did dwell in our Land, if grace does not dwell in our hearts? Oh my Brethren, when things are dark without, let all be clear within, Give diligence to make your calling sure; 'tis both feasible and probable, God is not wanting to them that seek him; let not this great business hang in hand any longer. If there were controversy about your Land, you would use all means to clear your Title; and is salvation nothing? will not you clear your Title here? Consider how sad your case is if you are not effectually called.
1. You are strangers to God; The Prodigal went into a far Country, Luke 15.13. to imply that every sinner before conversion is a far off from God, Ephesians 2.12. At that time ye were without Christ, strangers to the Covenants of Promise. Men dying in their sins have no more right to Promises than strangers have to the right Privileges of free-born Citizens. If you are strangers, what language can you expect from God, but this, I know you not?
2. If you are not effectually called, you are enemies, Colossians 1.21. Alienated and enemies. There is nothing in the Bible you can lay claim to but the threatenings: you are heirs to all the plagues written in the Book of God: Though you may resist the Commands of the Law, you cannot fly from the Curses of the Law. Such as are enemies to God, let them read their doom. Luke 19.27. But those mine enemies which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me. Oh therefore, how nearly does it concern you, to make your calling sure? How miserable and damnable will your condition be, if Death call you, before the Spirit call you!
Question 1. But is there any hope of my being called? I have been a great sinner.
Answer Great sinners have been called. Paul was as bloody a persecutor, as ever Domitian or Julian; yet he was called. Some of the Jews, who had an hand in crucifying Christ, were called. God loves to display the Flag of Free-grace to sinners. Therefore be not discouraged; you see a golden Cord let down from Heaven, for poor trembling souls to lay hold upon.
Question 2. But how shall I know that I am effectually called?
Answer 1. He who is savingly called, is called out of himself; not only sinful self, but righteous self; he denies his duties and moral endowments, Philippians 3.9. Not having mine own righteousness. He whose heart God hath touched by his Spirit, lays down the Idol of Self-righteousness at Christs feet for him to tread upon; he uses morality, and Duties of Piety, but does not trust to them. Noah's Dove made use of her wings to fly, but trusted to the Ark for safety. This is excellent, when a man is called out of himself. This self-renunciation is (as Austin says) Primus ad fidem aditus, the first step to saving faith.
2. He who is effectually called has a visible change wrought; not a change of the faculties, but of the qualities; he is altered from what he was before; his body is the same, but not his mind; he has another spirit, he is alter idem. Paul was so changed after his conversion, that people did not know him, Acts 9.21. Oh what a Metamorphosis does grace make! 1 Corinthians 6.11. And such were some of you; but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified. Grace is the true Verticordia, it turns the heart. In effectual calling there is a threefold change wrought.
1. There is a change wrought in the Understanding: Before, there was ignorance, darkness was upon the face of the deep, but now there is light, Ephesians 5.8. Now ye are light in the Lord. The first work God made was light; so it is in the new Creation; he who is savingly called, says as that man in the Gospel, John 9.25. Whereas I was blind, now I see. He sees that evil in sin, and excellency in the ways of God, as he never saw before. Indeed this light which the blessed spirit brings may well be called a marvelous light, 1 Peter 2.9. That ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you into his marvelous light. It is a marvelous light in six respects, 1. Because it is strangely conveyed; it does not come from the Celestial Orbs, where the Planets are, but from the Sun of Righteousness. 2. It is marvelous in the effect: This light does that which no other light can, it makes a man see himself blind. 3. It is a marvelous light, because it is more penetrating; other light may shine upon the face, this light shines upon the heart, and enlightens the Conscience, 2 Corinthians 4.6. 4. It is a marvelous light, because it sets those that have it a marveling: they marvel at themselves, how they could be contented so long without it; they marvel that their eyes should be opened, and not others; they marvel that notwithstanding they hated and opposed this light, yet it should shine in the Firmament of their souls. This is that the Saints will stand wondering at to all eternity. 5. It is a marvelous light, because it is more virtual than any other; it does not only enlighten, but quicken, it makes alive those who were dead in trespasses and sins; therefore it is elegantly called Lumen vita, the light of life, John 8.12. 6. It is a marvelous light, because it is the beginning of the everlasting light. The light of grace is the morning-star which ushers in the Sun-light of glory.
Now then Christian, Can you say, that this marvelous light of the Spirit has dawned upon you? when you were enveloped in ignorance and did neither know God nor yourself, suddenly, A light from Heaven shined round about you. This is one part of that blessed change which is wrought in the effectual calling.
2. There is a change wrought in the Will Romans 7.18. To will is present with me. The Will which before opposed Christ, now embraces him; the Will which was an Iron Sinew, now is like melting Wax, it readily receives the stamp and impression of the holy Ghost. The Will as the Primum Mobile, moves heavenward, and carries all the Orbs of the affections along with it. The regenerate Will answers to every call of God, as the Echo answers to the voice, Acts 9.6. Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? The Will now becomes a Volunteer, it lists itself under the Captain of Salvation. Oh what an happy change is wrought here! before Will kept Christ out, now it keeps sin out.
3. There is a change in the Conversation. He who is called of God, walks directly contrary to what he did before; he walked before in envy, and malice, now he walks in love; before he walked in pride, now in humility: The Current is carried quite another way, Acts 23.1. I have lived in all good Conscience. As in the heart there is a New-birth, so in the life a New Edition, Thus we see what a mighty change is wrought in such as are called of God.
How far are they from this effectual call, who never had any change! They are the same they were forty, fifty years ago, as proud and carnal as ever; they have seen many changes in the times, but they have had no change in their hearts. Let not men think to go to Heaven per saltum, to leap out of the Harlots lap into Abrahams bosom; either they must have a gracious change while they live, or a cursed change when they die.
3. He who is called of God, esteems of this call as the highest blessing. A King whom God hath called by his grace esteems it more that he is called to be a Saint, than that he is called to be a King; he values his High-Calling above his High-Birth. Theodosius thought it a greater honour to be a Christian, than to be an Emperor. A carnal person can no more value spiritual blessings, than a child can value a knot of Diamonds; he prefers his worldly grandeur, his ease, plenty, titles of honour, before conversion; he had rather be called Duke than Saint; a sign he is a stranger to effectual calling. He who is enlightened by the Spirit counts holiness his best Heraldry, and looks upon his effectual calling as his preferment; when he has taken this degree, he is a Candidate for Heaven.
4. He who is effectually called, is called out of the World; it is an Heavenly Calling, Hebrews 3.1. He that is called of God minds the things of an Heavenly aspect; he is in the world, but not of the world. Naturalists say of precious stones, though they have their matter from the earth, yet their sparkling lustre is from the influence of the Heavens: So it is with a godly man, though his body be from the earth, yet the sparkling of his affections is from Heaven; his heart is drawn into the upper Region, as high as Christ. He does not only cast off every wicked work, but every earthly weight; he is not a Worm, but an Eagle.
5. Another sign of our effectual calling, is diligence in our ordinary calling. Some brag of their high calling, but they lie idle at Anchor. Religion does not seal Warrants to idleness. Christians must not be as the Leviathan, which is made to play in the Sea, Psalm 104.26. Idleness is Balneum Diaboli, the Devils Bath; a slothful person becomes a prey to every temptation. Grace while it cures the heart does not make the hand lame. He who is called of God, as he works for heaven, so he works in his trade. Now if upon search, you can find that you are effectually called, I have three Exhortations to you.
