An exposition upon the thirteenth chapter of the Revelation by that reverend and eminent…

1. In our effectual calling, there is a declaration of Gods love to the soul in Christ Jesus by the spirit of grace, in the doctrine of the Gospel, for that is Gods call; in our calling, God calls for his part by his grace and spirit, and we answer that spirit, by that faith, which by the call of God is wrought in our hearts; I say, God calls effectually to his grace by manifesting the rich grace of God in Christ, electing freely, ⟨p. 151⟩calling freely, from the obedience of sin and Satan, to the liberty of the sons of God, as to those in Queen Mary's time, when they wandered up & down like Lambs in a large place: Bilney he fetches in that one word in his lost and forlorn condition; He read this promise, and the spirit of God applies it; Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief: This being applied by the spirit, it falls on him with power, and he sees the goodness of God in Christ, and the vanity of all things else: and seeing so much glory in Christ, and in particular to him also, this lets him see the vanity of all other courses; for this manifestation of Gods spirit doth effectually and manifestly open our eyes to see, and hearts to believe what the Lord offers, for faith is said to receive what the Lord gives of grace; here is then that which makes calling sure, for otherwise how can we know it, but by the manifestation, and declaration, and revelation of the Spirit: The things that eye never saw, nor ear heard, nor ever entered into the heart of man, but he hath revealed them by his spirit, 1 Cor. 2. 9, 10. As no man knows the things of man, but the spirit of man, so no man knows the things of God, but the spirit of God: And we have not received the spirit of this world, but the spirit which is of God, that we may know the things that are freely given us of God. The spirit of God it is that searcheth all things, even the deep things of God, and reveals them to us, and lets us see the treasures of grace, and lets us see them thus applied, this is the ground of effectual calling, God calling by his spirit, and we answering that call, and from both these springs another fruit of our effectual calling, which is likewise a certain pledge of it that being thus called: Blessed be God (saith the Apostle) that hath called us to the fellowship of his son actually and effectually.

1. In our effectuall calling, there is a declaration of Gods love to the soul in Christ Jesus by the spirit of grace, in the doctrine of the Gospell, for that is Gods call; in our calling, God calls for his part by his grace and spirit, and we answere that spirit, by that faith, which by the call of God is wrought in our hearts; I say, God calls effectually to his grace by manifesting the rich grace of God in Christ, electing freely,