Sermon 3

2 Peter 1:10. Therefore the rather, Brethren, give all diligence to make your Calling and Election sure.

Having finished the first part of the discovery, in relation to the method God takes with those whom he does effectually call, I now proceed to the second way of discovery, and that is, by those saving concomitants, that do and will accompany a soul that is effectually called. And these saving effects, I shall reduce under eight heads.

First, a man effectually called by Christ does unfeignedly love the word of God, and the minister that preached that word that God did use as an instrument of his call. First, I say, he will love the word (John 8:47): "He that is of God" — that is, he that is called by God — "hears God's word; therefore you are not of God, because you hear not his word." There the Scripture tells us, that they who are of God, effectually called by him, they hear his word with abundance of delight, and abundance of joy and love. So in 1 John 4:5-6: "He that is of God hears us; he that is not of God hears not us." And therefore David, when he would evidence a work of God upon his heart (Psalm 119:14), says, "Your word is as great riches to me." And as if he did not value riches comparable to the word, in verse 72: "I love your word above thousands of gold and silver." Beloved, if you are converted and called by Jesus Christ, you will love the word of God, that was an instrument of your call. Therefore all you that spurn against the gospel, that cannot endure to have the word come with power upon your consciences — all you that are weary of ordinances, and find no more savor in an ordinance of God than, as Job says, there is taste in the white of an egg — this is an argument you are not yet called. What is the reason one man will rise early, go far, take pains, and many times neglect his own lawful affairs, and all to enjoy the word, when another man will go by the church door, and perhaps go to a tavern, and will not go to hear the word at all? What is the reason? One is called by the word, and the other not: one is called by the word, and therefore loves it; another is not called, and that makes him neglect it.

2. He does not only love the word, but the minister that by preaching the word was an instrument of his conversion. And therefore it is observable, which some divines note, that of all men that we read of in Scripture, there was no man did love Paul so well as Timothy. For, says Paul (Philippians 2:22), "I have no man like-minded" — no man that did so naturally care for him, and for the church of God, as he. "For as a son with his father has he served me." And what is the reason? Why, Paul was the instrument of Timothy's conversion, and Timothy being a minister, and come to a great pitch in grace, he thought that of all arguments in the world, that should endear him to love Paul, because Paul was the minister that did convert him. Therefore he calls him (1 Timothy 1:2) Timothy his beloved son in the faith. And hence it is, that when the Apostle would draw love from the Corinthians to himself, and the ministers of Christ that were the means of their calling, he urges it upon this ground, that they were the means that did beget them to Christ Jesus (1 Corinthians 4:1, compared with verses 15-16): "Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and as stewards of the mysteries of God." Why should men so account of them? For, in verse 15: "Though you have ten thousand instructors, yet have you not many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel." Hereby he would draw out their love to him, because he was the instrument that did first convert them. Now then, put these two together: a man that is effectually called does both love the word of Christ, that was an instrument of his calling, and the minister that preached that word, which was the means by which he was called. Try yourselves by these. Many of you perhaps have some good wrought, as you think, upon you, and some change in you; but truly let me tell you this, if you are persons that are out of love with the word, if you are out of love with those ministers God made instrumental to convert you, you have just cause to suspect your calling. For you see throughout the whole course of Scripture, their hearts did cleave with love to them that called them. And therefore they that can slight and despise those ministers by whose ministry they were brought home to Jesus Christ, they have just cause of jealousy to suspect their call. Again,

3. If God has effectually called you, he will by his Spirit bring you out of a state of ignorance and darkness, and give you some measure of knowledge, to be acquainted both with the mysteries of God and Christ, and the sinfulness of yourselves more than ever you were before. This the Apostle Peter intimates (1 Peter 2:9): "You are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a peculiar people, that you may show forth the praise of him, who has called you out of darkness into his marvelous light" — that is, out of ignorance into a great measure of knowledge. And it is called a marvelous light: 1. Because it is marvelous if you compare that knowledge you shall have under the gospel, with what men had under the law. 2. It is marvelous, because men are astonished, that they should, after so long a night of ignorance, come to so great a measure of knowledge. 3. It is called marvelous, because it is so contrary to that condition they were formerly in: as if a man that has lain long in a dark dungeon should be suddenly called into a glorious palace, the palace would seem more glorious, because it is so contrary to the dark prison. So this work of God when he calls you, it is marvelous light, because it is so contrary to the condition you were in before your calling (Isaiah 30:26; Acts 26:18). He has sent his word to call you from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God. 4. It is a marvelous light, because such as none but the Mediator could procure it (Isaiah 42:6-7): "I will give you for a light to the Gentiles." 5. It is a marvelous light, because a light that shines out of darkness (2 Corinthians 4:6): "God that commanded the light to shine out of darkness." 6. It is a marvelous light because it has more force than any other light: it is called the light of life (John 8:12).

Now this call from darkness to light has two branches: 1. A man shall have more light, to have more acquaintance with, and more clearness in the mysteries of Jesus Christ: And 2. more light to know the sinfulness of himself.

First, he shall have more light to know the mysteries of Jesus Christ. And hence it is that Paul tells us (Galatians 1:16), it pleased God to call me by his grace, and to reveal his Son in me; implying, that where God by his grace does call a sinner, he does reveal his Son to him. Therefore, beloved, if Jesus Christ be not made known to your souls, if you have no competent measure of the knowledge of Christ; you may be under this conviction, that you are not yet called by Jesus Christ. Nay further, he does not only call you to this light, to manifest Jesus Christ to you in some dim way; but you shall have a clear light (2 Corinthians 4:6): For God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, has shined in our hearts — not in a dim, but shining light — to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. That is, you have a clear light to know God in the face of Christ; you cannot know God in himself, but in the person of Christ you shall have light to know him. This therefore is the first branch, that God will put a light into your soul, whereby you shall have a clear knowledge of the things pertaining to Jesus Christ.

Again secondly, this shall not only reveal Christ to you; but this light shall also reveal yourself to you, the sinfulness of yourself. It is observable of Paul, that before his calling, he was after the law blameless; he thought himself to be a faultless man; but when the word called him, then he cries out, I see sin to be exceeding sinful. Then he saw sin to be sin, and himself to be a vile and wretched man. And therefore, beloved, any of you that have not this marvelous light in your souls, neither to know God, nor to know Jesus Christ, nor the matters pertaining to him, nor to know the sinfulness of your own hearts; take it from God, you are not effectually called. Either these passages in Scripture must be erased out, or else your calling must not be sound; and therefore take heed. I would fain make my ministry searching, that hypocrites may not lie lurking under it. You would be better Christians, if you were better acquainted with all that unsoundness, and that wretchedness of heart that is in you; and therefore — I entreat you — look about you. Though I would have no godly man discouraged by this that is spoken; but that you that are not yet called, might have your hearts a little staggered by what is and will be said.

3. A man effectually called is cast out of himself, and cleaves to, and closes with Jesus Christ, with more complacency and contentment, than ever he could do in all his life before. He that has heard and learned of the Father, shall come to me (John 6:45); he does not say, all they that hear of the Father. Many men do hear the word, but never close in with Christ; but all they that have heard, and by hearing have learned, and are called, come to me, and close in with me, and cleave to me, and take content and delight in me. Beloved, there are many that hear the word, yet never go out of themselves, and never close in with Christ. But all they that hear and learn, that hear and are called by hearing, they all come in to Jesus Christ. Therefore all you, that in hearing cannot find your hearts in love with Christ, cannot find your hearts to close in with Christ, and believe in Christ; you have just cause to suspect your call, that your calling is not effectual. The Apostle tells you (1 Corinthians 1:24), there were other men who counted Christ foolishness; but to you that are called, Christ is the power and wisdom of God. That is, you do acknowledge, and you do conceive of Jesus Christ, that he has as much power as God has in him, and as much wisdom as God has in him; and you close in with Christ for that end, when other men think Christ to be foolish, and Christ weak. Men uncalled, they have low thoughts of Christ; but to you that are called, Christ is the power and wisdom of God. You will have high thoughts of Jesus Christ if you are effectually called.

4. That man that is effectually called, he shall be enabled by the Spirit of Christ to call upon God (1 Corinthians 1:2): To all in Corinth called to be saints, with all that call upon the name of the Lord. There the Apostle joins called to be saints, with this phrase, to call upon God: to show, that whoever is effectually called to be a saint, that man shall be enabled by the Spirit of Jesus, to call upon God. When you said, Seek my face; my heart said to you, your face, Lord, will I seek (Psalm 27:8). Hence you read (Acts 9:11), when Ananias doubted whether Paul was truly called or no, and Jesus Christ would convince Ananias that he was truly called: what means does he use? Verse 11: do not suspect him, but arise, says Christ, and go to him into the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one Saul of Tarsus, for behold he prays. If he were not called, he would never go to God in such a cordial way, and humble his soul before God for his past failings. And beg strength for time to come, and labor to have his peace made with me. Go to him, for behold he prays. And therefore all you that have not a spirit in any measure to call upon God, and to pour forth your requests in a solemn prayer; you have just cause of jealousy to suspect your call.

5. If you are effectually called, God has wrought in your souls an utter detestation and loathing of all the evils that in the former part of your lives before your calling you have committed and were guilty of. Hosea 14:8: Ephraim shall say, what have I any more to do with idols? The interrogation imports a vehement detestation of them, and indignation against them. 2 Corinthians 7:11 — the Apostle speaks there of repentance (the same with calling) when men come to have the work of grace in their hearts: and this is a branch of it: that godly sorrow causes care, and causes fear, and causes indignation. That is, if any man be a repenting man and a converted man, this conversion will cause indignation; that is, he will be even angry with himself, and angry with himself, that he should be so vile a wretch before conversion as he has been. Thus was Paul — he speaks with indignation against the sins he was guilty of before his calling. I have been a persecutor, I have hauled the saints into prison. No, says he, I was even mad against the church. Beloved, you will count your sins to be madness, and count them to be greatly aggravated, that were committed before God called you. Anselm said to his body, I'll tame you, O unruly beast, with fasting and prayer. We read of one that bit off his tongue in indignation, that with it he had denied Jesus Christ. Another martyr put that hand first into the fire, with which he had subscribed a recantation, saying, Burn you, O hand, that did subscribe to that which might have made me burn both body and soul in hell. And therefore you that have no loathing thoughts against past deceit, and past drunkenness, and past swearing, and past evils — suspect your calling. You that do not abhor the thoughts of your former evils, your accustomed pride and accustomed covetousness — if you cannot look with indignation against these, you have great cause to suspect your call. For if God has called you, he will make you even angry with yourselves, that ever you have been so vile as you have been. Hence it is, when God speaks of Israel's conversion (Isaiah 2:20), it is said, they shall cast away their idols from them — they shall cast away their sins as with indignation against themselves, because they have sinned. And hence in the prophecy of Ezekiel 20:43, the prophet tells them, that for the evils they had done, they should loathe themselves in their own eyes — their indignation should be so great against themselves, that ever they should be so vile against God before their call. So David with indignation says, after he had recovered himself and brought his heart into a repentant frame, so foolish was I and ignorant (Psalm 73:22). Now, beloved, I would appeal to you — I will judge no man; let your own consciences pass sentence upon you. But let me appeal to yourselves: Have not many of you before these times been opposers of religion, men walking in ungodly, lewd, and profane courses of living? Perhaps now you are molded into a form of profession; now you hear the Word, speak well of ministers; now you cry up government — many your plausible ways and actions you can carry on. But what is in your hearts? Have you indignation against your past persecution and evils? If not, believe it, though you go far, I fear you may come short of heaven — your calling is not real, if you have not indignation and wrath against your former sins committed. And therefore, O what a sad word is this to all insensible sinners — that are men that never had their hearts touched with remorse for any evil! What a sad word is this to you that have been drunk week after week, and sworn day after day, and deceived hour after hour, and been unclean time after time, and yet all these evils never touched the heart? Truly, you have great cause to fear that God has not yet effectually called you by Jesus Christ.

6. The man that is effectually called — his spirit is brought into an obediential frame, to yield obedience to the commands of Jesus Christ. If God calls you by his Spirit, he will not leave you to the excesses of your own ways and will, but he will bring you to a yieldingness of heart to all his commands. Romans 15:6: We have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations, among whom you are also the called of Jesus Christ. The Apostle did not alone receive grace for obedience, but the same was among them also: you receive grace for the obedience of faith. So that now, if you are the called of Jesus Christ, the Lord has this work upon you — he does bring you to the obedience of faith; that is, he does work in your souls a yielding frame to obey all the commands of Jesus Christ. And therefore any of you that stand out with stoutness of heart against Jesus Christ — let Christ say what he will, you will do what you like; let him command what he will, you will do what you please — you that stand out thus with opposition of spirit against Jesus Christ, you have great cause to suspect your call. Again,

7. A man effectually called by Jesus Christ will be mis-called and reproached by the men of the world. John 15:19: If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Yet do not mistake me — I do not say in this point that every man that is reproached and mis-called is a called man; but I say, a man that is truly called will be mis-called by wicked men. Now mis-calling, or the reproaches of wicked men, is a pledge of your effectual calling, if you take in these qualifications. First, if they mis-call you merely because you are godly, and hate you because of your holiness, then it is an argument — as Jesus Christ said, because I have called you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Secondly, if they mis-call you when you give no occasion of offense, therefore they may justly mis-call you — if you can say with David (Psalm 59), they mis-call me, but it is neither for my wickedness nor for my sins. If they mis-call you without any ground, then it is a probable argument of your effectual calling.

A man effectually called, he makes it his endeavor to walk worthy of his calling (2 Thessalonians 2:13-14). So Ephesians 4:1: Walk worthy of the calling with which you are called. And thus I have briefly gone over these eight particulars: I entreat you, delude not your own hearts, but bring the Word and your hearts together, and try by these notes, whether you can evidence to your own souls, that you are effectually called by Jesus Christ, or no.

Now is this true, that with all those whom God has effectually called, he does take those methods before spoken of; and he does work these concomitants now named? Then 1. By way of use, this should be astonishment to all those that never had those methods of God upon their souls; that never had these effects within them to accompany their call. O Beloved, I wish I could fasten the nail of terror deep into their hearts, that never had any of these wrought in their souls; that never loved the Word, nor the ministers of it; that never were brought by God out of a state of ignorance into a state of knowledge; that never did close in effectually with Jesus Christ; that never had indignation against the evils they did before conversion; that never had their hearts brought into an obedient frame, to take impression of any command that God should lay upon them — how sadly should this consideration lie upon your hearts?

2. Are you effectually called? Labor to resemble him in your conversation that has called you. This use the Apostle makes of this doctrine (1 Peter 1:15): As he that has called you is holy, so be you holy — resemble him that has called you in holiness. An excellent phrase you have (1 Peter 2:9): Show forth, says the Apostle, the praises of him that has called you from darkness into his marvelous light. The word is more full in the Greek; show forth, or manifest — not the praises, as we read it, but — the virtues or the graces of him that has called you. If God has called you, and Christ has called you, you should show forth Christ's graces in your conversation; that is, live as Christ lived, and walk as Christ walked. If you say, you have fellowship with Christ, you ought also to walk as he walked (1 John 1:6).

3. Do nothing that may any way blemish this holy calling of yours; this the Apostle presses (2 Thessalonians 1:11): We pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling. So Ephesians 4:1: I as a prisoner of the Lord Jesus beseech you, that you walk worthy of the vocation with which you are called. Beloved, if you are called, take heed of any way blemishing your call: all the scandals and failings you commit, lays a spot upon that holy calling of yours; though indeed there is no reason to blemish a man's profession, although some should err in their practice. The Apostle takes off this (Galatians 5:8): This persuasion, says Paul, comes not from him that has called you. As if he should say: many men seeing the Galatians turn apostates, they may blame religion, and blame God that called them; but says the Apostle, do not blame them; for this persuasion of their failings, comes not from him that called them: your calling is not in fault, but your corruptions are in fault. Therefore it is an unjust accusation, because some men fail, to blame God, and blame profession, and religion for it.

4. If God has effectually called you, and you can evince it to your own souls upon the discovery before heard; my last use is this, that you would live in exalting and magnifying of the grace of God in your calling: you are called, says the Apostle, according to the purpose of his grace; not according to your own works. O live in magnifying that grace that has called you.

And here I might press upon you 7 or 8 considerations, why you should live in magnifying of grace. I shall name them first in general. This exhortation should much sway with you, if you would consider these three things: 1. From what you are called. 2. To what you are called; and 3. For what you are called. I shall put the two first together.

1. The consideration of this, from what, and to what you are called, should much heighten your magnifying of God's grace: and here I shall name seven particulars.

1. A man effectually called, he is called from ignorance to knowledge (1 Peter 2:9): You are called from darkness into marvelous light. Now should not this make you magnify mercy, that you that lay in your sins uncalled, as in a dungeon of darkness, now God should call you into a lightsome and pleasurable palace? Your mind was a fairly built house without windows; or if any, but wooden windows that would let in no light: now God has opened these shutters, and let in the Sun of righteousness to shine upon your soul; and brought you from this dungeon of darkness in your soul, and given you the light of his knowledge.

2. You are called from a course of sin to a course of holiness: before your calling you were the Devil's drudges, and did his work at will; the Devil (in Paul's language to Timothy) had you captive at his pleasure; but when God calls you, he takes you from under the dominion and reign of sin; and brings you into a course of holiness (1 Thessalonians 4:7): You are called, not to uncleanness, but to holiness (2 Peter 1:3): He has called us to glory and virtue. Before calling, you were the receptacle or common shore of all filth and uncleanness; when called, you are swept with the besom of sanctification; yes, beautified and adorned as a pleasant palace for your God to delight in. And this should cause you much to magnify grace, that you are brought from being the Devil's drudges, to be God's freemen; from being the Devil's slaves, to be God's servants; from being the Devil's [reconstructed: taskmaster], to pay you your wages in hell, to be God's workman, for which he will give you your reward in heaven.

3. God calls you from bondage to liberty. In the time that you are uncalled, you are in bondage (2 Peter 2:19): they are the servants of corruption, etc. — in bondage to your lusts, and bondage to your passion, and a slave to the world; you are in bondage under the law, under the curse and rigor, and condemnation of it; but now Jesus Christ, if he has called you, he has called you to liberty (Galatians 5:13): You are called to liberty, only use not liberty as a cloak to wickedness. Before calling (2 Timothy 2:25), you are in Satan's snares; but after calling, you are set at liberty, you are freed from the guilt, and freed from the bondage of your sin.

4. You are called from a condition of estrangedness, into an intimate familiarity and fellowship with Jesus Christ. Before calling, you are strangers from the life of grace (Ephesians 4:18). You are without God in the world, strangers to the Commonwealth of Israel (Ephesians 2:12). But when God calls you, he calls you from the condition of a stranger, and brings you into friendship and fellowship with Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 1:9: God is faithful, by whom you are called into the fellowship of his Son. You who were without Christ before calling, being called, you enjoy near familiarity with his Son.

5. You are called from Satan to God (Acts 26:18). He has sent forth his word among you, to bring you from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God. Satan who was your lord, and was your master, and ruler — you are now from under his clutches, and brought under the dominion and subjection of your God.

6. When God effectually calls you, you are brought from a state of enmity against God, to a state of amity and reconciliation toward him, and Jesus Christ, and all the things of God. Colossians 3:15: Let the peace of God rule in your hearts, for to this you are called; and be thankful. God has called you to peace; he has not called you to wrath. Before calling, God and your soul were the most inveterate enemies in all the world. After calling, God and you are of enemies become the greatest friends. You are called to peace, therefore be thankful.

7. You are called from a state of shame to a state of glory. Before you are called, you are vile and shameful creatures in God's sight; when God calls you, he calls you into a condition of glory. 1 Peter 5:10: Who has called us to his eternal glory. And 1 Thessalonians 2:12: Since you were precious in my sight, and I have loved you, you became honorable (Isaiah 43). 1 Peter 2:6: To you that believe, Christ is precious — or as it is in the Greek, he is an honor to you. Jesus Christ, when once you are called to a believing state, he is not only precious to you, and prized by you, but he is an honor to you. This then you are to consider: that uncalled, you are in a shameful condition, no badge of honor lies upon you; but when once you are called by Christ, he becomes an honor to you.

8. And lastly — which shall be accomplished in the end — you shall be called from earth to heaven, and from the grave to glory; this shall be your call after death. Now put all these eight together: to be called from ignorance to knowledge; from sin to grace; from bondage to liberty; from estrangement to fellowship with Jesus Christ; from a state of enmity to a state of amity and reconciliation with God and man; from shame to glory; and from earth to heaven. And should not this mightily heighten your joy, and increase your praises in magnifying the grace of God in your hearts?

Secondly, the consideration of this — as from what, and to what, so for what you are called — should increase your praises. Now for what are you called? You are called merely according to the purpose of his own grace; neither foreseen works, nor good education, nor grace in you — none of all these were motives in God's breast to call you. And hence you may see it was nothing in you, because there were many things in us that might move God not to call us. We have often withstood his call; we have often strangled the motions of his Spirit in our hearts; we have often carried gainsaying hearts to the wooing of the ministers of Christ. So that it is nothing in us, but merely his own grace that conquers our unholiness, and conquers our unwillingness, and overcomes that stoutness that is in us — merely the grace and goodness of Jesus Christ. Now sum up all these together, and revolve them in your hearts, and you will see what great cause you have to live in magnifying of Jesus Christ.