A Practical Commentary on the Epistle of Jude

Well now, upon all these Considerations labour to get your calling evidenced, that will clear up your title to the great privileges of grace; by it you may rebuke your doubts and fears: When Conscience asketh, What have you to do with these comforts? to look upon your selves as objects of Gods Election? as heirs of Glory? you may answer, I did not take this honour upon me, I was called of God. But you will say, What are the infallible Notes and Marks of effectual calling? I answer, These; I shall contract larger discourses: You may know your effectual calling, Partly¹ by the preparations made for it; though the work it self be done in an instant, and many times when we least think of it, yet usually God maketh way for his mighty Work. As the husbandman harroweth and breaketh the clods before he throweth in the seed; so by some preparative conviction God breaketh the heart, and maketh it meet to receive grace: Redemption needed no preparation, but Conversion doth. Look as Moses brought them to the Borders, but Joshua led them into the Land of Canaan; so usually there is some foregoing Law work, though we are called properly by the Gospel; 1 Thes. 2. 14. Called by my Gospel: The Law driveth us out of our selves, but the Gospel pulleth in the heart to Christ. Look as in outward generation the matter is gradually prepared and disposed, so is the Soul for the new birth: A man is awakened by the sight of his own wretchedness, convinced of sin, and the evil consequences of it; and then the ^*work is done by the mild voice of the Gospel; as Manna came down in sweet dews. It is Gods way to speak terror before he speak comfort: Christ showeth the method, Joh. 16. 8. The Spirit shall convince of sin: The ^†word is notable; to convince, is ^*to show a thing to be impossible to be otherwise then we represent it: so the Spirit convinceth, and maketh the person yield, and say, Certainly I am a sinner, an unbeliever, a very wretch, that ⟨p. 21⟩