1. Spiritual life; This the Apostle intendeth where he joineth these two together, God quickeneth the dead, and calleth. &c. Rom. 4. 17. Before men are called they are dead in sins, Eph. 2. 1. But when Christ effectually calleth any, his voice pierceth into their soul as powerfully as it did into the body of the damsel which was new dead. Mar. 5. 41, 42. Or of the young man that was carrying out on a Beer to be buried, Luke 7. 13, 14, 15. Or of Lazarus that had been dead four days, John 11, 43, 44. This is evident by this promise of Christ, The dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God, and they that hear shall live, Joh. 5. 25. This is such a privilege as scarce a greater can be desired; All that a man hath will he give for his temporal life, Job 2. 4. what then for spiritual life?
2. Light and sight: These I join together because one without the other is of no use. Of what use is light to a blind man? And of what use is sight to him that hath no light to see by? Besides, by these two an effectual calling is distinguished from a mere formal calling. They who are only outwardly called have light shining upon them, in that they have the Word preached unto them. In this respect it is said, The light shineth in darkness and the darkness comprehendeth it not, Joh. 1. 5. But they who are inwardly called have also sight given unto them, the eyes of their understanding are opened, I have called thee saith the Lord to his Son to open his blind eyes, Isa. 42. 6, 7. And the Apostle saith that he was sent to open mens eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, Act. 26. 19. That this is a privilege of Saints calling, is evident by this phrase, God hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light, 1 Pet. 2. 9 Though this privilege be not simply greater then the former, yet it adds much thereunto; For what is life to them that live in darkness, but a kind of death? It is very uncomfortable; Therefore darkness and death are oft joined together, Isa. 9. 2. Job 10. 21, 22. So on the contrary life and light are joined together, Joh. 1. 4. to show that life is no life without light; Eternal death is in Scripture set out by darkness, Mat. 8. 12.
3. Holiness; God hath called us unto holiness, 1 Thes. 4. 7. How great a privilege this is hath been before showed, §. 7.
4. Liberty; The Apostle expressly saith, that we are called unto liberty, Gal.
1. Spirituall life; This the Apostle intendeth where he joyneth these two together, God quickneth the dead, and calleth. &c. Rom. 4. 17. Before men are called they are dead in sins, Eph. 2. 1. But when Christ effectually calleth any, his voice pierceth into their soul as powerfully as it did into the body of the damsell which was new dead. Mar. 5. 41, 42. Or of the young man that was carrying out on a Beer to be buried, Luke 7. 13, 14, 15. Or of Lazarus that had been dead four daies, Iohn 11, 43, 44. This is evident by this promise of Christ, The dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God, and they that hear shall live, Joh. 5. 25. This is such a priviledge as scarce a greater can be desired; All that a man hath will he give for his temporall life, Job 2. 4. what then for spiritual life?
2. Light and sight: These I joyn together because one without the other is of no use. Of what use is light to a blinde man? And of what use is sight to him that hath no light to see by? Besides, by these two an effectuall calling is distinguished from a meer formal calling. They who are only outwardly called have light shining upon them, in that they have the Word preached unto them. In this respect it is said, The light shineth in darknesse and the darknesse comprehendeth it not, Joh. 1. 5. But they who are inwardly called have also sight given unto them, the eyes of their understanding are opened, I have called thee saith the Lord to his Son to open his blinde eyes, Isa. 42. 6, 7. And the Apostle saith that he was sent to open mens eyes, and to turn them from darknesse to light, Act. 26. 19. That this is a priviledge of Saints calling, is evident by this phrase, God hath called you out of darknesse into his marvelluus light, 1 Pet. 2. 9 Though this priviledge be not simply greater then the former, yet it addes much thereunto; For what is life to them that live in darknesse, but a kinde of death? It is very uncomfortable; Therefore darknesse and death are oft joyned together,
