Use 2 Secondly, The answering of this Query, is for consolation to elect men, who are not yet converted. Dost thou belong to Gods Election? Why, before thou art converted, thou hast a stubborn will, thou hast a gainsaying heart, thou hast a stout spirit against God, thy heart is as hard as an Adamant, as hard as the Rocks; yet here is thy comfort, all the gain-sayings of thy spirit, and all the stubbornness of thy will, it shall not be able to keep off converting mercy, and shall not be able to keep off calling grace from thee: When God hath an intent to call thee, he will come with Power by his call, and make thee do what he commands thee, and make thee embrace what he calls thee to. Did not Jesus Christ use an operative call, as well as a significative call, no man in the world would ever be called. And this is the reason, that in hearing the same Sermon, and following the same Preacher, one man is converted, the other is not. The reason is this, The call of the Ministry is only a significative call of a Reprobate; only signifying what God would have him do: But there is no power conveyed with the invitation, to make the man able to do what Christ calls him to; and therefore one is called, the other ⟨p. 66⟩is not. Thus much in Answer to the first case.
Ʋse 2 Secondly, The answering of this Query, is for consolation to elect men, who are not yet converted. Dost thou belong to Gods Election? Why, before thou art converted, thou hast a stubborn wil, thou hast a gainsaying heart, thou hast a stout spirit against God, thy heart is as hard as an Adamant, as hard as the Rocks; yet here is thy comfort, all the gain-sayings of thy spirit, and all the stubbornnesse of thy will, it shall not be able to keep off converting mercy, and shall not be able to keep off calling grace from thee: When God hath an intent to call thee, he will come with Power by his call, and make thee do what he commands thee, and make thee imbrace what he cals thee to. Did not Jesus Christ use an operative call, as well as a significative call, no man in the world would ever be called. And this is the reason, that in hearing the same Sermon, and following the same Preacher, one man is converted, the other is not. The reason is this, The call of the Ministry is onely a significative call of a Reprobate; onely signifying what God would have him do: But there is no power conveyed with the invitation, to make the man able to do what Christ cals him to; and therefore one is called, the other ⟨p. 66⟩is not. Thus much in Answer to the first case.
