Again, Gods people are well styled a called people, because1 ⟨p. 12⟩they are so many ways called: from self to Christ, from sin to holiness, from misery to happiness and glory. They are called from self to Christ, Mat. 11. 28. Come unto me all ye that are heavy laden: The main end of a call is to bring Christ and the Soul together; every dispensation of God hath a voice; and God speaketh to us by Conscience, by his Works, by benefits, by crosses, but chiefly by his Word, the application of which by the Spirit is as it were an awakening call: but the chief call of God is by the voice of the Gospel, wherein the offers of grace are discovered to us; C•me poor wearied Soul, come to Christ, and thou shalt find ease and comfort. Again, they are called from sin to holiness, 1 Thes. 4. 7. God hath not called us to uncleanness, but to holiness: though the immediate end of divine calling be faith, yet the intermediate end is holiness, as the ultimate end is glory. Thus we are called out of Babylon into Zion, from the Tents of Kedar into the Tents of Shem, from nature to grace, and the power of Satan into the Kingdom of God: in short, this call is a separation from uncleanness, and all common and vile uses. Again, they are called from misery to happiness and glory, from aliens to be friends, from darkness to light, 1 Pet. 2. 9. from being enemies to be reconciled, from bastards to become sons, from vessels of wrath to be heirs of Glory. With respect to all these sorts of calling, it is termed sometimes an high calling, Phil. 3. 14. sometimes an holy calling, 2 Tim. 1. 9. and sometimes an heavenly calling, Heb. 3. 1. It is an high calling, because of the honour and dignity of it; *it is no small matter to be children of God, coheirs with Christ, Kings and Priests to God: Many are lifted up, because they have born Offices, and are called to high places in the world; a Christian hath a calling more excellent, he is called to be a Saint, a spiritual King, an holy Priest to God. It is an holy calling, because of the effect and purpose of it: Mans calling may put dignity and honour upon us, but it cannot infuse grace; it may change our condition, but not our hearts. It is an heavenly calling, because of the Author of it, God by his Spirit; and because of the aim of it, the grace whereby we are called came from Heaven, and its aim and tendency is to ⟨p. 13⟩bring us thither: see 1 Thes. 2.
Again, Gods people are well stiled a called people, because1 ⟨p. 12⟩they are so many ways called: from self to Christ, from sin to holiness, from misery to happiness and glory. They are called from self to Christ, Mat. 11. 28. Come unto me all ye that are heavy laden: The main end of a call is to bring Christ and the Soul together; every dispensation of God hath a voyce; and God speaketh to us by Conscience, by his Works, by benefits, by crosses, but chiefly by his Word, the application of which by the Spirit is as it were an awakening call: but the chief call of God is by the voyce of the Gospel, wherein the offers of grace are discovered to us; C•me poor wearied Soul, come to Christ, and thou shalt find ease and comfort. Again, they are called from sin to holiness, 1 Thes. 4. 7. God hath not called us to uncleanness, but to holiness: though the immediate end of divine calling be faith, yet the intermediate end is holiness, as the ultimate end is glory. Thus we are called out of Babylon into Sion, from the Tents of Kedar into the Tents of Shem, from nature to grace, and the power of Satan into the Kingdom of God: in short, this call is a separation from uncleanness, and all common and vile uses. Again, they are called from misery to happiness and glory, from aliens to be friends, from darkness to light, 1 Pet. 2. 9. from being enemies to be reconciled, from bastards to become sons, from vessels of wrath to be heirs of Glory. With respect to all these sorts of calling, it is termed sometimes an high calling, Phil. 3. 14. sometimes an holy calling, 2 Tim. 1. 9. and sometimes an heavenly calling, Heb. 3. 1. It is an high calling, because of the honour and dignity of it; *it is no small matter to be children of God, coheirs with Christ, Kings and Priests to God: Many are lifted up, because they have born Offices, and are called to high places in the world; a Christian hath a calling more excellent, he is called to be a Saint, a spiritual King, an holy Priest to God. It is an holy calling, because of the effect and purpose of it: Mans calling may put dignity and honour upon us, but it cannot infuse grace; it may change our condition, but not our hearts. It is an heavenly calling, because of the Author of it, God by his Spirit; and because of the aym of it, the grace whereby we are called came from Heaven, and its aym and tendency is to
- 12 Reason.
- *John 1. 12. Rom. 8. 17. Rev. 1. 6.
