A29369:481
Bridge's remains, being VIII sermons
Bridge's remains, being VIII sermons ... by that learned and judicious divine, Mr. William Bridge ...
London : Printed and are to be sold by John Hancock Senior and Junior ..., 1673
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Sermons › Sermon 8: THE Dignity and Duty OF Gods Called-ones.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Secondly, How does it appear, That when God brings home a man to himself, he does it in a way of calling; and why so? I answer, If our Conversion be called our calling; and the Saints are described by their calling: The thing is true; Make your calling and election sure, 2 Pet. 1.10. that is your Conversion. Rom. 1.6 7. Among whom also are ye the called of God, Called to be Saints. So 1 Cor. 1.2. Saints by Calling. If the Saints and people of God be described by the Called-ones, and our Conversion be termed our Calling; Then when God brings home a man to himself, he does it in a way of Calling.
First, Because those that God brings home to himself, are afar off. We call men that are afar off: If they be near, we speak to them. By nature we are afar off from God; therefore when he converts men, he is said to call. Acts 2.14.39. Peter standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said to them, Ye men of Judea, &c. hearken to my words, v. 14. For the promise is to you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even to as many as the Lord our God shall call, v. 39. Called upon this account, because ye are afar off.
Secondly, Is it not necessary that we should be conformed to Christ our Head, and to Abraham our Father, the father of the faithful? You shall find Abraham was called Isa. 51.2. Look unto Abraham your father, &c. for I called him alone. Christ is also said to be called in a way suitable to him.