(1.) Though the works of creation and providence reveal a God, yet these natural apostles, sun, moon, and stars, say nothing of Christ, and there is salvation in no other. Acts iv. 12. They did teach the world that there is a God, and that this God must be served, and will be terrible to those that serve him not ; and possibly that God was; placable, or willing to be appeased, because of the continuance of the creation, and the manifold mercies we lost or forfeited by our apostasy and defection from him. The apostle saith it is an invitation to repentance, Kom. ii. 4. Yet the knowledge of Jesus Christ the Son of God, and of redemption purchased to lost sinners through him, is a mystery which the greatest wits in the world could not understand but by God's revealing it in his word.
VeB. 28.J SERMONS UPON BOMANS VHI. 287
(2.) The use of this call to those that have no other, but barely it, is to leave men without excuse, Rom. i. 20 ; and that it might pre- vail to work some restraint of sin, and to promote some external reformation in the world, for the good of mankind, Rom. ii. 14.
(3.) Those who have a louder call in the word are the more obliged to regard this call and invitation by the works of God's creation and providence. The call by the word is more perfect and more pressing, and suited more to work upon our thoughts, the object being more clearly and fully propounded to us. Yet this latter call is not privative, but accumulative ; it doth not null the duty of the former call, or make it wholly useless to us, but helps us to interpret it the better, and we need all helps. Faith doth not withdraw itself from natural knowledge, and make it useless to us. Though we are to exercise ourselves in the law of God day and night, yet we must not overlook the works of creation and providence, and whilst we study his word, neglect God's works ; for they are a confirmation of our faith, and a great occasional help to our love, as appeareth by the instructions which the holy men of God gather thence ; witness David's night medi- tation, Ps. viii., ' Thy moon and thy stars ; ' and his morning meditation, Ps. xix, ' The heavens declare the glory of God.' The glories of God which we read of in the word are visible in the creation ; and though David preferreth the book of scripture, yet he doth not lay aside the book of nature. We must use the world as a glass, wherein to see the glory of God. He hath not the heart of a man in him who is not stricken with admiration at the sight of these things — the glory of the heavenly bodies, and the wonderful variety of all creatures; and besides, there is none so good, but he needeth the mercy and direction of God to invite him to a more frequent remembrance of him. How happy are they that have such a God for their God ! How miserable they that make him their judge and avenger !
[2.] The proper calling is the voice of God in the word of his grace inviting sinners to Christ. This is called distinctly his calling : Eph. i. 18, ' That ye may know what is the hope of his calling ; ' and the ' high calUng of God in Jesus Christ,' Phil. iii. 14 ; and again, ' That our, God would count you worthy of his calling,' 2 Thes. i. 11 ; and explained, 1 Cor. L 9, ' Faithful is he which hath called you into the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.' Now this is a more close and full discovery of God than is to be found elsewhere ; God calleth and inviteth some by the creatures only, others by his grace in Christ.
But this being calling most properly taken, why is it not vouchsafed to all ? I answer —
(1.) God is not obliged to send the gospel to any ; it is his free dispensation : Rom. xi. 35, ' Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed to him again ? ' God doth not send the gospel by necessity of nature, or any pre-obligation on the creature's part, but merely of his own grace, which worketh most freely, and sendeth it where it pleaseth him.
(2.) Ml have more knowledge of God by nature than they make good use of: Rom. i. 21, 'When they knew God, they glorified him not as God.' And till men improve a lower dispensation, why should
288 SERMONS UPON ROMANS VIII. [Ser. XXXVIIL
they be trusted with a higher ? If a vessel will not hold water, you will not trust wine, or any more precious liquor in it.
2. God's gracious invitation of lost sinners to Christ, which properly is his calling them, is either external or internal ; external by the word, internal by his Spirit.
[1.] External, by the commands and promises of the word, requiring such duties from them, and assuring them of such blessings upon obedience. Thus Wisdom's maidens are sent forth to invite guests to her palace, Prov. iv. 2 ; and the king's servants to call them to the marriage-feast, Mat. xxii. 9 ; and so far they prevail in their message, that many present themselves. God would not leave us to a book, but hath appointed a living ministry, 2 Cor. vi. 10.