I. For the Author, It is God that hath called us: Our eyes therefore must be1 fixed on him, that we may conform our selves to him, and show our selves ch• dren answerable to such a Father: Thus shall we walk worthy of the Lord, Col. 1. 10 and worthy of God who hath called us, 1 Thess. 2. 12. For this end we must obsen• those particulars wherein God hath set himself a pattern before us, and ther• show our selves like unto him. Thus shall we show our selves partakers of the Divi• Nature, 2 Pet. 1. 4. Yea thus shall we show forth the praises or cvirtues of him […] hath called us, 1 Pet. 2. 9.
Particulars registered in Gods Word to this end are these,3
1. Holiness in all manner of conversation, 1 Pet. 1. 15.
2. Goodness. They that do good for goodness sake, even to them that […] them, are the children of their Father which is in heaven, Matth. 5. 44, 45.
3. Kindness, for God is kind to the unthankful, Luk 6. 35.
4. Mercy. Be ye merciful, saith Christ, as your Father also is mercif• Luke 6 36.
5. Love. The Apostle gives this instance of following God, Eph. 5. 1, 2. Ma• doth the beloved Disciple press this upon this very ground, 1 Joh. 4. 11.
⟨p. 273⟩6. Forgiving one another. Forgive one another as God for Christs sake forgave you, Eph. 4. 32.
7. Long-suffering, Eph. 4. 2.
II. For the Means, which is the Word of God: that sets forth the very Image4 of God, and that which is pleasing and acceptable unto him. This therefore must be set before us as a rule to conform our selves thereunto. Thus shall we walk worthy •f the Lord unto all pleasing, (Col. 1. 10.) The Apostle commends the Romans for obeying from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered to them, (Rom. 6. 17.) or that dform whereunto they were delivered. This phrase is metaphorical, taken from a mould whereinto metal is cast. The metal is thereby formed into that very form or shape which the form it self hath. If the form be square or round, so will the metal be: if there be any engravement upon the form, the metal will bear the same. Thus they who obey the Word, will be such as the Word requireth them to be: and because the Word hath Gods Image engraven upon it, they who obey the Word, will show forth that very Image.
III. The Ends of our Christian calling are great and glorious, which require6 that Christians do answerably carry themselves.
I. For the Authour, It is God that hath called us: Our eyes therefore must be1 fixed on him, that we may conform our selves to him, and shew our selves ch• dren answerable to such a Father: Thus shall we walk worthy of the Lord, Col. 1. 10 and worthy of God who hath called us, 1 Thess. 2. 12. For this end we must obsen• those particulars wherein God hath set himself a pattern before us, and ther• shew our selves like unto him. Thus shall we shew our selves partakers of the Divi• Nature, 2 Pet. 1. 4. Yea thus shall we shew forth the praises or cvertues of him 〈…〉 hath called us, 1 Pet. 2. 9.
Particulars registred in Gods Word to this end are these,3
1. Holiness in all manner of conversation, 1 Pet. 1. 15.
2. Goodness. They that do good for goodness sake, even to them that 〈…〉 them, are the children of their Father which is in heaven, Matth. 5. 44, 45.
3. Kindness, for God is kinde to the unthankfull, Luk 6. 35.
4. Mercy. Be ye mercifull, saith Christ, as your Father also is mercif• Luke 6 36.
5. Love. The Apostle gives this instance of following God, Eph. 5. 1, 2. Ma• doth the beloved Disciple press this upon this very ground, 1 Ioh. 4. 11.
⟨p. 273⟩
- 11. Walk worthy of God.
- c[Greek or Hebrew].〈non-Latin alphabet〉.
- 3Particular virtues of him that hath called us to be showed forth.Particular virtues of him that hath called us to be shewed forth.
- 42. B• conformable to the Word of God.
- d[Greek or Hebrew].〈non-Latin alphabet〉.
- 6Walk as advanced to an high calling.
