The saints anchor-hold, in all storms and tempests preached in sundry sermons, and published…

R. 1. Because the souls saying, the Lord is my portion, is the answering of the soul unto God, calling his Elect effectually, by the ministry of the Gospel, out of the World and sin and self, unto himself, in Jesus Christ. There is an outward calling, by the ministry of man only, of which the Prophet speaks, in Hos. 11. 7. Though they called them to the most High, yet none would exalt him. This is ineffectual, unto spiritual conversion, of it self, without the quickening efficacies of the spirit. But when that is added, and worketh with the ministry of man (which of it self only soundeth in the ear) then God speaketh to the heart, Hos. ⟨p. 37⟩2. 14. Thereby the father draweth the Elect unto his Son, Joh. 6. 44, 45. Then they hear the voice of the Son of God, which they that hear, shall live, Joh. 5. 25. The soul being thus quickened, answers the call of God with the obedience of faith, as David found, in Psal. 27. 8. Thou saidst, seek ye my face; my heart answered, thy face Jehovah, I do seek. This answer is the voice of the whole soul unto God. The understanding, being enlightened and fully convinced, closeth with God, in Christ, as the first Truth, and the will chooseth him as the chiefest good; the affections rest satisfied with him alone, and the whole soul placeth all its happiness in its enjoyment of him, and conformity to him. Hope waits for him, desire longeth after him, and joy delighteth in him above all things. The Lord calleth the whole soul to come unto him, that it may find true rest, in voluntarily subjecting it self under his yoke. Mat. 11. 28, 29. and the whole soul, in all its faculties and affections, answereth, as the Church did, in Jer. ⟨p. 38⟩