Bridge's remains, being VIII sermons

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. ⟨p. 189⟩Mat. 2.15. Out of Egypt have I called my son. Heb. 5.4. No man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that was called of God, as was Aaron. Isa. 4.26. I the Lord have called thee in righteousness, &c. Isa. 49.1. Listen, O isles unto me, &c. The Lord hath called me from the womb. We are to be conformable to Christ our Head, and to Abraham our Father in our calling.

Thirdly, If God shall bring a man home to himself, according to the practice of men, he must bring him home in a way of calling. I drew them with the cords of a man,