[5.] The calling of magistrates must not be undertaken, whatever abilities and inclinations men have, till they have a fair invitation from those that have power to call them ; and then it must not be refused. Men are God's instruments in this kind, and therefore we must not only have gifts from God but allowance from men ; and therefore they sin that enter upon the magistrate's office by violence, or by money and bribery, and do not expect a call and the fair invita- tion of providence ; as Absalom had an itch to be a judge and a ruler, but he got the office by rebellion. And again they sin, that when they have a fair call from God and men— from God by gifts, and from
23G SERMONS UPON HEBREWS XL [SeR. XL.
men by choice and allowance — refuse, out of a desire of ease and privacj', or for want of courage. But I will not meddle with this more now.
Ministers must expect both an internal and an external call — a call they must have, that they may not run till they are sent. Jesus Christ took not this honour upon him, till he was called by God. There is much of God to be observed in this calling, that we may expect a blessing, and digest the difficulties and inconveniences of it with patience : Acts XV. 7, ' God made choice among us, that the gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel and believe ; ' there was a choice of Peter among the rest of the apostles ; so Acts. x. 41, 42, 'Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead. And he com- manded us to preach unto the people,' &c. AVell then, but when are we chosen? There is an internal call from God, and an external call from the church. The internal call from God, that is it chiefly which I am to speak of, though I shall touch on the other also. This is when a man is made fit and willing. Fit he must be ; if the Spirit of God fitted Aholiab and Bezaleel for the material work of the temple, then much more is there a fitness required in the ministers of the gospel : 1 Tim. i, 12, ' I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry.' There must be some competent ability. If God ever puts us into the ministry, he first enableth us ; and that is not all he must be willing : 1 Tim. iii. 1, 'If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desiretli a good work.' There must be a strong inclination, that if God give a call, we will take up such a course of life. Well then, he hath not this inward call that is willing, but not fit, or fit, but not willing, much more he that is neither fit nor willing, but only is thrust upon such an office by the carnal importunities of friends ; and he that hath both, hath the call of the Spirit. But now an internal call is not enouijjh ; there must be that which is external, as Peter was sent by an angel to Cornelius, and had an external call from Cornelius too, Acts x. So must we, having an inward call, wait for the outward call of the church, otherwise we cannot lawfully be admitted to the exercise of the calling. As in the old testament, the tribe of Levi was by God appointed to the service of the altar, yet none could exercise the ministry and calling of a Levite, till he was anointed and juirified by the church : Exod. xxviii. 3, ' And thou shalt speak unto all that are wise-hearted, whom I have filled with the Spirit of wisdom, that they may make Aaron's garments to cou- oecrate him, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office ; so Num. iii. 3, 'These are the names of the sons of Aaron, the priests which were anointed, whom he consecrated to minister in the priest's office.' Thus the ministers of the gospel, though called by God, must have their external separation, and setting apart to that work by the church. The outward call belongs to the church, but it is to be done in order — election by the people, examination of life and doctrine with author- itative mission by the presbytery, confirmation by the magistrate : Acts vi. 3, ' Wherefore brethren look ye out among ye seven men, of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business ; ' where election is referred to the body of the church and
VeK. 8.] SERMONS UPON HEBREWS XI. 237
ordination to the elders : Acts xiv. 23, ' And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed ; ' Acts xiii. 2, 3, ' The Holy Ghost said. Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.' And the christian magistrate hath his share, to see that all things are done orderly ; and then they are to have his confirmation.!