Use 3d. Of comfort to them who are tfie called of God. This call evidenceth elec- tion, Rom. viii. 30., " Whom he predesti- nated, them he also called." Election is the cause of our vocation, and vocation is the sign of our election. Election is the first link of the golden chain of salvation, vocation is the second ; he who hath the second link of the chain is sure of the first link ; as by the stream we are led to the fountain, so hy vocation we ascend to elec- tion. Calling is an earnest and pledge of glory, 2 Thess. ii. 13., " God hath chosen you to salvation, through sanctification." We may read God's predestinating love in the work of grace in our heart.
To such as are called, to be thankful to God for this unspeakable blessing ; be thank- ful to all the persons in the Trinity, to the Father's mere}-, — to the Son's merit, — to the Spirit's efficacy. To niiUie you thank- ful, consider, when you had offended God that he should call vou : that, when God needed you not, he had millions of glorified saints and angels to praise him, yet he call- ed you. Again, consider what you were before God called you ; you were in your sins; when God called Paul, he found him persecuting ; wlien he called Matthew, he found him at the receipt of custom ; when he called Zaccheus, he found him using ex- tortion. \\'hen God calls a man by his grace, he finds him seeking after his lusts ; as when Saul was called to the kingdom, he was seeking the asses ; that (iod should call thee when thou wast in the hot pursuit of sin, admire God's love, exalt his praise. Again, that God should call you, and pass by others, what mercy is this ! Mat. xi. 26., " Even so Father, for so it seemed good in thy sight." That God should ])ass by the wise and noble persons, of sweeter disposi- tion, acuter parts, guilty of less vice, «ind that the lot of free grace should fall upon you. O astonishing love of (iod ! It was a gre.it favour of God to Samuel, that God call- ed to him, and revealed his mind to him, and passed by Eli, though a ])riest and a judge in Israel, 1 Sam. iii. 6., so, that God should call to thee, a flagitious sinner, and pass by others of higher birth and better morals, here is that which calls aloud for praise. As God so governs the clouds, that he
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makes them rain upon one place, and not upon another : so two at a sermon, — one his heart tlie Lord opens, — the other is no more affected with it, than a deaf man witli the sound of music. Here is the banner of free grace disphiyed, and liore sliould the tropliies of praise he erected. EHjuh and Elisha were walking together ; on a sud- den there came a chariot of (ire, and car- ried Elijah up to heaven, but left Elisha behind ; so, when two are walking toge- ther, husband and wife, father and child, that (lod should call one by his grace, but leave the other, carry up one in a trium- phant chariot to heaven, but let the other perish eternally ; O infinite ricli grace ! How should thcv that are called be affect- ed with God's discriminating love ? How should the vessels of mercy run over with thankfulness ? How should they stand upon mount (lerlzit/i, blessing and praising God ? O begin the work of heaven here ! Such as are patterns of merc\^ should be trumpeters of praise. Thus St. Paul being called of God, and seeing what a debtor he was to Iree grace, breaks forth into admi- ration and gratulation, 1 Tim. i. 13.
Use 4th. To the called, ^^'alk worthy of your high calling, Ej)h. iv. 1 , " I be- seech you, that ye walk worthy of the vo- cation wherewith ye are called ;" in two things.
1. Walk compassionately. Pity such as are yet uncalled ; liast thou a child tliat God liath not yet called, a wife, a servant? weep over tlieir dying souls ; they are in their blood, " under the power of Satan."
O pity tliem ! Let their sins more trouble y<»u than your own sufferings ; if you ])ity an ox or ass going astray, will you not pity a soul going astray ? Shew your piety by your l)ity.
2. Walk liolily. Your's is an Jioly call-
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