Secondly, What is it to be counted or made worthy of this calling which the apostle prayeth for ? The word a^cooarj is indifferent to either interpretation. To be made worthy is to be enabled, to be counted worthy is to be accepted ; and so the sense may be, that God by his grace would enable you to walk worthy of the calling and privilege of being christians, or count you worthy to be taken into this holy and heavenly estate, or preserved therein until the participation of that glory to which he hath so graciously called you.
But for more distinctness, let me observe to you, that there is a threefold worthiness —
1. A worthiness of desert and proper merit. So the word is some- times taken : Kev. iv. 11, ' Thou art worthy, 0 Lord, to receive glory, honour, and power.' Surely God deserveth all that the creature can give him, and infinitely much more. So Kev. v. 12, ' Worthy is the Lamb that was slain, to receive power, riches, wisdom, strength, and honour ; ' that is, to be served with our best. There is no doubt on that side, but God and Christ deserve not our best only, but our all. But let us give it in a lower instance, between man and man, where worthiness signifieth merit : Mat. x. 10, ' The workman is worthy of his meat.' When preachers are sustained by their hearers, it is not an alms, but a debt ; they are worthy of their sustenance, or to be enter- tained for all necessaries by them, taking so much pains for the benefit of others. So 1 Tim. v. 17, ' Let the elders that rule well be accounted worthy of double honour.' Allowed to enjoy it. The double honour was the elder brother's portion ; but is it so between us and God ? Are we worthy of those favours bestowed upon us by Christ ? Oh no ; there is no such merit, no such worthiness, no not of the mercies of daily providence, much less of the eternal recompenses: Gen. xxxii. 10, ' I am not worthy of the least of all thy mercies.' In this sense the apostle would never pray that God would count them worthy of this calling.
2. There is a worthiness of meetness and suitableness, without any respect to merit and proper justice. So we are said to 'walk worthy
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of God,' Col. i. 10 ; ' Worthy of the gospel,' «f «b? rov evayyeXiov. We translate it ' becoming the gospel.' So ' worthy of our calling,' Eph. iv. 1, so as may beseem the duties and hopes of christians, that the life of Christianity may show forth itself in us. In this sense God maketh us worthy, when we are made more holy and more heavenly, for this is becoming our calling. So 1 Thes. ii. 12, ' Walk worthy of God, who hath called us to his kingdom and glory.' God is a holy God, and the happiness we are called unto is a glorious estate ; then we are worthy when we are made more suitable to this holiness and happiness. Both together are expressed, Col. i. 12, ' Made meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light.' It is the inheritance of saints, and therefore the meetness consists in sanctification. It is in light ; by it I understand glory, or a happiness abstracted from those dreggy contentments wherein men usually seek their satisfaction. Therefore this meetness must consist in a heavenly frame of heart, that can forsake or deny all earthly thiugs for Christ's sake.
[1.] This meetness consisteth in holiness : 1 Peter i. 15, ' As he that hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation.' The calling puts a holy nature into us, obligeth us to live by a holy and perfect rule, offereth us a pure reward, and all to engage us in the service of a God who is pure and holy, who will be sanctified in all that are near unto him. Therefore to make his people such who were once sinners, he hath appointed means and ordinances, Gal. v. 26, and providences, Heb. xii. 10, and all accompained with the almighty operation of a Holy Spirit: 2 Thes. ii. 13, ' Through sanctification of the Spirit, and belief of the truth.' Therefore the more pure and holy, the more doth God make us meet.
[2.] This meetness consisteth in heavenliness ; for God by calling in- viteth men, and draweth them off from this world to a better ; the more they obey this call, the more heavenly they are. It is heaven they seek : Col. iii. 1, 2, 'If ye be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God : set your affections on things above, and not on things on the earth.' Heaven they hope for : 1 Peter i. 3, ' Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus. Christ, who hath begotten us again to a lively hope, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.' Heavenly things they savour and count their portion : Mat. vi. 20, 21, ' Lay up treasures in heaven, &c. ; for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.' They count heaven their home and happiness : Heb. xi. 13, ' These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed they were strangers and pilgrims on earth.' Their work and scope : Phil. iii. 14, ' I press towards the mark, for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ.' Their end, solace, and support : 2 Cor. iv. 18, ' While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen ; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.' Their course becometh their choice: Phil. iii. 20, ' Our conversation is in heaven, from whence we look for the Saviour.' These are worthy, or made meet.