Something does yet remain of the third verse untouched, and then, God assisting us, we shall come unto the fourth. f lu the third verse, the sum whereof you have heard, we have considered,
1. A gift : ' he hath given us.'
2. The fountain from whence: ' his divine power.'
3. The kind of gift : ' things pertaining to life and godliness.'
4. The extent thereof: ' all things.'
5. The means of conveyance by which this great gift is made ours : ' by the knowledge of him who hath called us to glory and virtue.'
Knowledge, then, is the means by which we make claim to, and make use of, this great charter, grant, and gift of God. Not by every divine
* ' A Glimpse of Glory' forms No. 20 of the original ' Paints' Cordials',' 1629. It was withdrawn in the after-editions. Its separate title-page is as follows :— ' A Glimpse of Glorie. In One Sermon. Wherein is shewed, The excellency and neces- sity of a particular calling. What our calling to glory ia. Divers particulars to ravish the soule in admiration of it. &c. Prselucendo Pereo. Vprightnes Hath Boldnes. 1 Cor. 2. 9 But as it is written. Eye hath not seene, nor eare heard, neither have entred into the heart of man the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. London, Printed in the yeare 1629.'— G,
t The other sermons have not heen preserved. — G.
A GLIMPSE OF GLORY. 493
knowledge of God, nor by a general knowledge of every branch of divinity, but by the knowledge of him only who ' calieth us to glory and virtue.' Then, I say, the immediate or mediate calling of God and Christ is con- siderable, or both if you will. This is that we must take knowledge of, if we mean to make claim either to piety in this world, or life in that to come. If once we come to have, and be assured of this calling, then therewith all things also pertaining to life and godliness are given us. And the reasons thereof are,
1. Such is the efficacy of this calling ; ' not of men, but of God.'
2. Such is the fidelity of him who calieth us.
3. Such is the continual supply he wull make of all things to us.
If he hath called us, he will supply us with all things, with piety here, and crown us hereafter in glory.
Thus far we went. Now let us go on. Something yet remains to be handled of the conve3^ance, where he saith, ' He hath called us. This word us hath his proper weight, and must not slightly be passed over. For although we have already spoken of caUing in general, and the necessity thereof, yet now it is also fit to consider thereof in particular for our proper interest therein ; for, as it is not sufficient to have a general knowledge of God in his power, justice, mercy, goodness, or other his attributes, or of Christ in his person and function, but I must know how he is merciful and good unto me, how he justifies and conveys life to me, — for unless we know God in Christ in particular, the general will not serve, — to know only that there is a covenant, a gospel, and life therein, that there is a Mediator, thou mayest know all this and more, and yet it be unprofitable to thee ; so it will not suflice us to know there is a calling to glory and virtue, but in particular we must know him calling us to glory and virtue ; for if we cannot say, He hath called us, we have small reason to rejoice, or be content of our estate. I enlarged this the last day by the similitude of a rich inventory and a will ; a man ma}^ have a rich inventory, and read of many brave things and moveables therein, and know them also, but unless from the gift of the testator he may make claim to somewhat given him by name in the will, he is a poor man, for all his rich inventory. So is it of calling ; a man may have a general calling, but he must have it by name : ' Who hath called us to glory and virtue.'
The point then is,
Doct. 1. Tliat ivherehy a Christian may have title, interest, and comfort, in life and glory. It is not a knowledge of calling in general, but of that par- ticular calling of ourselves to glory and virtue. This doth interest us in the promises of God. See Acts ii. 39, where, after they had been pricked with his sermon, he says, to comfort them, and invite all to hope and seek, ' For the promise is made to you and to your children ;' and then he adds the condition, 'Even to as many as the Lord our God shall call.' No calling, no promise. Nay, further, without this there is no encouragement to holiness. 1 Tim. vi. 12, there Paul wills Timothy ' to fight the good fight of faith, to lay hold upon eternal life ;' but on what ground is this ? ' Whereunto thou art also called.' This is the reason why he is encouraged to lay hold ; God had sanctified, and made a change in him, therefore he had good reason to lay hold of eternal life. So I would have every one of you know, that it is a command of God that every man should make ' his calling and election sure,' 2 Peter i. 10, as is shewed in the tenth verse of this chapter, where my text is. And for this, that we may be stkred up unto it, see both reason and example.