Fifthly, in this leading of Christ by the spirit, we learn a further thing: so long as Christ was a private man he lived with Joseph and Mary a private life; but being baptized, and thereby installed in his office of Mediator, he returns not to Bethlehem or Nazareth where he was borne and brought up, but gets him presently into the wilderness, thereto encounter with Satan, and that by the motion of the spirit; wherein we may see, that all that are appointed and set apart by God for any special calling, are in some sort changed by his spirit, and as it were made other men. When Saul was anointed to be king, the text saith, God gave him another heart. 1. Sam. 10. 9. And when Davide was made of a shepherd a king, he was furnished for that place, as his behaviour showed, which was such as did beseem a king. Thus the Apostles of our Saviour Christ, of poor fisher-men, altogetherf unlettered, by the gift of Christs calling,g were made able ministers of the New testament, and so became indeed fishers of men, Mark. 1. 17.4 Which serves to confute such men as plead extraordinary callings, as many have done; some saying they were Elijah, some John Baptist, &c. For if these were such men, and had received such extraordinary callings, then should they withal have been endued with extraordinary gifts fit for those callings; but no such thing befalleth them, nay it is plain, they remain the same men they were before, without any change at all in respect of gifts fit for such persons as they pretend themselves to be. And to apply this to our selves; we are all by nature the children of wrath, and enemies unto God; but by grace we are made Kings, Priests, and Prophets; Kings to rule over the world and the Devil, in respect of their provocations unto sin, as also to subdue in our selves our own evil lusts and affections; Priests to offer up spiritual sacrifices unto God, as prayers and praises for his daily blessings; and Prophets to instruct our selves and others in the ways of God, according to our gifts and calling. Now then it behoveth us all to become new men, and to lead new lives fitting and suitable to our holy calling, giving our selves wholly to the honour and service of God, showing hereby, that we are hereunto called by his spirit of grace and holiness, so shall weh walk worthy of the Lord, and show forth the virtues of him that hath called us, 1.
Fiftly, in this leading of Christ by the spirit, we learne a further thing: so long as Christ was a priuat man he liued with Ioseph and Mary a priuate life; but being baptized, and thereby installed in his office of Mediatour, he returnes not to Bethlem or Nazaret where he was borne and brought vp, but gets him presently into the wildernesse, thereto encounter with Satan, and that by the motion of the spirit; wherein we may see, that all that are appointed and set apart by God for any speciall calling, are in some sort changed by his spirit, and as it were made other men. When Saul was anointed to be king, the text sayth, God gaue him another heart. 1. Sam. 10. 9. And when Dauide was made of a shepheard a king, he was furnished for that place, as his behauiour shewed, which was such as did beseeme a king. Thus the Apostles of our Sauiour Christ, of poore fisher-men, altogetherf vnlettered, by the gift of Christs calling,g were made able ministers of the New testament, and so became indeed fishers of men, Mark. 1. 17.4 Which serues to confute such men as plead extraordinary callings, as many haue done; some saying they were Elias, some Iohn Baptist, &c. For if these were such men, and had receiued such extraordinary callings, then should they withall haue beene endued with extraordinary gifts fit for those callings; but no such thing befalleth them, nay it is plaine, they remaine the same men they were before, without any change at all in respect of gifts fit for such persons as they pretend themselues to be. And to apply this to our selues; we are all by nature the children of wrath, and enemies vnto God; but by grace we are made Kings, Priests, and Prophets; Kings to rule ouer the world and the Diuell, in respect of their prouocations vnto sinne, as also to subdue in our selues our owne euill lusts and affections; Priests to offer vp spirituall sacrifices vnto God, as prayers and praises for his daily blessings; and Prophets to instruct our selues and others in the wayes of God, according to our gifts and calling. Now then it behoueth vs all to become new men, and to leade new liues fitting and sutable to our holy calling, giuing our selues wholly to the honour and seruice of God, shewing hereby, that we are hereunto called by his spirit of grace and holinesse, so shall weh
- ePsal. 78. 71. 72.
- fActs 4. 13.
- g2. Cor. 3. 6.
- 4Use.Vse.
- hColos. 1. 10.
