Chapter 14. Three Exhortations to Them Who Are Called
1. Admire and adore God's free-grace in calling you; that God should leap over so many, that he should pass by the wise and noble, and that the lot of free-grace should fall upon you! That he should take you out of a state of vassalage, from grinding at the Devil's Mill, and should set you above the Princes of the Earth, and call you to inherit the Throne of Glory! Fall upon your knees, break forth into a thankful triumph of praise; Let your hearts be ten-stringed Instruments, to sound forth the memorial of God's mercy. None so deep in debt to Free-grace as you, and none should be so high mounted upon the Pinnacle of thanksgiving. Say as the sweet Singer, Psalm 145.2. I will extol thee, O God my King, every day will I bless thee, and I will praise thy name for ever. Those who are Patterns of mercy, should be Trumpets of praise. Oh long to be in Heaven, where your thanksgivings shall be purer, and shall be raised a Note higher.
2. Pity those who are not yet called. Sinners in Scarlet are not objects of envy, but pity, they are under the power of Satan, Acts 26.18. They tread every day on the Banks of the bottomless pit; and what if death should give them a jog? Oh pity unconverted sinners. If you pity an Ox or an Ass going astray, will not you pity a Soul going astray from God, who hath lost his way, and his wits, and is upon the precipice of damnation?
Nay, not only pity sinners, but pray for them; Though they curse, do you pray, You will pray for persons distracted; Sinners are distracted, Luke 15.17. When he came to himself; it seems the Prodigal before conversion was not himself. Wicked men are going to execution; Sin is the halter which strangles them, Death turns them off the Ladder, and Hell is their burning place; and will not you pray for them when you see them in such danger?
3. You who are effectually called honour your high calling, Ephesians 4.1. I therefore beseech you, that you would walk worthy of the vocation wherewith you are called. Christians must keep a Decorum; they must observe what is comely. This is a seasonable advice, when many who profess to be called of God, yet by their loose incautious walking, they cast a blemish on Religion, whereby the ways of God are evil spoken of. It is Salvian's Speech, What do Pagans say when they see Christians live scandalously? Sure Christ taught them no better. Will you reproach Christ, and make him suffer again, by abusing your Heavenly calling? 'Tis one of the saddest sights, to see a man lift up his hands in prayer, and with those hands oppress; to hear the same tongue praise God, and at another time lie and slander; to hear a man in words profess God, and in works deny him: Oh how unworthy is this! Yours is a holy calling, and will you be unholy? Do not think you may take liberty as others. The Nazarite that had a vow on him, separated himself to God, and promised abstinence; though others did drink Wine, it was not fit for the Nazarite to do it: So though others are loose and vain, it is not fit for them who are set apart for God by effectual calling. Shall not Flowers be sweeter than Weeds? You must be A peculiar People, 1 Peter 2.9. Not only peculiar in regard of dignity, but deportment. Scorn things that are sordid and heterogeneous to the Gospel. Scipio refused the embraces of an Harlot, because he was General of an Army. Abhor all motions to sin, because it will disparage your high calling.
Question. What is it to walk worthy of our Heavenly calling?
Answer. 1. It is to walk regularly, when we tread with an even foot, and walk according to the Rules and Axioms of the Word. A true Saint is for Canonical Obedience, he follows the canon of Scripture, as the Greek word is, Galatians 6.16. As many as walk according to this Canon. When we leave men's inventions, and cleave to God's institutions; when we walk after the Word, as Israel after the pillar of fire; this is walking worthy of our Heavenly calling.
2. To walk worthy of our calling, is, to walk singularly, Genesis 7.1. Noah was upright in his Generation. When others walked with the Devil, Noah walked with God. We are forbidden to run with the multitude, Exodus 23. Though in civil things singularity is not commendable, yet in Religion it is good to be singular. Melancthon was the glory of the age he lived in. Athanasius was singularly holy, he appeared for God when the stream of the times ran another way. It is better to be a pattern of holiness, than a Partner in wickedness: It is better to go to Heaven with a few, than to Hell in the crowd. We must walk Antipodes to the men of the world.
3. To walk worthy of our calling, is to walk cheerfully; Philippians 4.4. Rejoice in the Lord evermore. Too much drooping of spirit disparageth our high calling, and makes others suspect the godly life to be Cynical and Melancholy. Of all complexions Christ loves the Sanguine. Causinus in his Hieroglyphics speaks of a Dove, whose wings being perfumed with sweet Ointments, did draw the other Doves after her. Cheerfulness is a perfume to draw others to godliness. Religion doth not banish all mirth. As there is a seriousness without sourness, so there is a cheerfulness without lightness. When the Prodigal was converted, then they began to be merry, Luke 15.24. Who should be cheerful if not the people of God? They are no sooner born of the Spirit, but they are heirs to a Crown: God is their Portion, and Heaven is their Mansion, and shall not they rejoice?
4. To walk worthy of our calling is to walk wisely. Walking wisely implies three things.
1. To walk warily, Ecclesiastes 2.14. The wise man's eyes are in his head. Others watch for our halting, therefore we had need look to our standing. We must beware, not only of Scandals, but Indecencies, lest by our indiscretion we open the mouths of others with a fresh cry against Religion. If our piety will not convert men, our prudence may silence them.
2. To walk courteously. The Spirit of the Gospel is full of sweetness and candour, 1 Peter 3.8. Be courteous, Take heed of a morose supercilious behaviour. Religion doth not take away civility, but refine it, Genesis 23.7. Abraham stood up, and bowed himself to the children of Heth. Though they were of an Heathenish Race, yet Abraham gave them a civil respect. Saint Paul was of an affable temper, 1 Corinthians 9.20. I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. In lesser matters the Apostle yielded to others, that by his obliging carriage he might win upon them, and catch them by an holy guile.
3. To walk magnanimously. Though we must be humble, yet not base. 'Tis unworthy to prostitute ourselves to the lusts of men. What is sinfully imposed ought to be zealously opposed. Conscience is God's Diocese, where none hath right to visit, but he who is The Bishop of our souls, 1 Peter 2.25. We must not be like hot Iron, which will be beat into any form. A brave spirited Christian will choose rather to die, than suffer the Virginity of his Conscience to be superstitiously deflowered. Here is the Serpent and the Dove united, sagacity and innocency; this prudential walking comports with our high calling, and doth not a little adorn the Gospel of Christ.
5. To walk worthy of our calling, is to walk influentially; to do good to others, and to be rich in acts of mercy, Hebrews 13.16. Good works honour Religion. As Mary poured the ointments on Christ; so by good works we pour sweet ointments on the head of the Gospel, and make it give forth a fragrant smell. Good works, though they are not Causes of Salvation, yet they are Evidences. When with our Saviour we go about doing good, and send abroad the refreshing influences of our liberality; now we walk worthy of our high calling.
Lastly, Here is matter of Consolation to you who are effectually called, God hath magnified rich grace towards you; you are called to great honour, to be Co-partners with the Angels, and Co-heirs with Christ: This should revive you in the worst of times. Let men reproach and miscall you; set God's calling of you, against man's miscalling: Let men persecute you to death, they do but give you a pass, and send you to Heaven the sooner: How may this cure the trembling of the heart! What though the Sea roar, though the Earth be unquiet, though the Stars are shaken out of their place? You need not fear; you are called, therefore are sure to be crowned.
