2. The great misery, if we refuse this call. ' None of those that were bidden shall taste of my supper,' Luke xiv. 24. They are not only excluded from happiness, but are under extreme wi-ath and misery : Prov. i. 24-26, ' Because I have called, and ye refused, I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded, but ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof, I will also laugh at your calamity, I will mock when your fear cometh.'
Use 2. Is to press you to make your calling and election sure, 2 Peter
VeE. 28.] SERMONS UPON ROMANS VIU. 293
i. 10. It cannot be more sure than it is in itself, but it may be more sure to us. This may be known by these signs —
1. Doth the word of God come to you with power, so as to produce its effect ? It is a sign of election when the gospel cometh to us not in word only, 2 Thes. i. 4, 5. The Spirit accompanieth it, that this calling may have its effect, and convert you to God.
2. By your obedience to this call ; attendancy, choice, and pursuit. [1.] A deliberate weighing, in order to choice : Acts xvi. 14, ' The Lord opened the heart of Lydia, so that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul.' A deep and serious consideration of the offers of pardon and life by Christ, this maketh way for other things : Mat. xiii. 19, ' When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart,' &c. ; Mat. xxii. 5, ' But they made light of it,' &c. Non-attendancy is the bane of the far greatest part of the world ; a flash of lightning cometh into their minds, and is soon gone. [2.] A thorough choice ; as Lydia is commended for attending, so Mary for choosing : Luke x. 42, ' But one thing is needful, and Mary hath chosen that good part which shall not be taken away from her.' [3.] A constant and earnest pursuit. A choice made in a sudden pang and humour may be as soon retracted : Phil. iii. 12, ' Not as though I had already attained, or were already perfect ; but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.' Seeking these things in the first place, Mat. vi. 33. That pursuit which is the fruit of calling must be speedy : Gal. i. 15, 16, ' But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace, to reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen, immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood,' &c. The call of God must be obeyed without delay : Heb. iii. 7, 8, 'Wherefore, as the Holy Ghost saith. To-day, if ye will hear his voice, harden not yoiu- hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness.' The case is uncertain, we know not whether we shall ever get again such an offer; and our indisposition is the greater. And then it must be earnest : Phil. iii. 14, ' I press towards the mark, for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.' It must be our scope and business, and accompanied with self-denial and dependence on God : Heb. xi. 8, ' By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he sliould after receive for an inheritance, obeyed, and he went out, not knowing whither he went. [4.] By walking worthy of it : Eph. iv. 1, ' I, there- fore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that you walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called ;' 1 Thes. ii. 12, ' That ye walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.' That ye behave yourselves so as may beseem the duties and hopes of christians — more holy, more heavenly. God is a holy God, and the happiness he hath called you unto a glorious estate ; labour to get the heavenly mind and holy conversation ; be deeply possessed with God's love in calling you, that you may love him again; it is not our will nor our wortli, therefore it could not begin with us. (1.) Not our will. Besides a simple want of good-will, there is in us a carelessness — yea, an averseness, in closing with his gracious offers. Mat. xxiii. 37. If it did
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depend on the choice of our will, we would refuse to be gathered, and would live and die estranged from God ; when all things are ready, we are not ready. (2.) Not our worth. There is nothing in the elect more than in the reprobate to move God to bestow this blessing on us — yea, much why he should abhor us, Ezek. xvi. 6. Only, where sin aboimded grace did much more abound, Eom. v. 20. The worthiest have no claim but grace.
Wc come now to the last clause — To them who are the called accord- ing to his purpose. The limiting term of this calling must be now considered — ' According to j^urpose.' Surely it is not meant of our good purpose and resolution to turn to God, wliich is none at all, till God work it in us ; and calling is God's act, and therefore it is meant of his purpose. And presently his foreknowledge and predestination is spoken of: nothing plainer can be said to signify God's purpose, which he purposed- in himself. But if God's purpose be meant, some think it is only his purpose concerning the way of salvation, or the saving of mankind by Christ, or the gospel- way : Eph. i. 9, ' Having made known the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure, which he pur- posed in himself ;' and Eph. iii. 11, ' According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord.' The gospel was firmly resolved upon by God according to his eternal purpose. But this is not all, the word relateth to a degree concerning those persons in particular whom he intended to save by Christ. His revealed will holdeth forth the way of our duty, or the course agreed upon and purposed by him ; but there are some persons whom he determineth to call to grace and glory. The word is often elsewhere applied to persons : 2 Tim. i. 9, ' Who hath called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace ;' and Eom. ix. 11, ' That the purpose of God according to election might stand ;' and Eph. i. 11, ' In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the counsel of his own will ; ' and so it suiteth with the text, which applieth this to persons. Three words are here used — purpose, foreknowledge, and predestination. Because there is wisdom in this decree, therefore it is called foreknowledge ; because there is an ordi- nation of means to a certain end, therefore it is called predestination ; because it is fixed and unchangeable, therefore it is called purpose.