1, Confutation; 2, trial; 3, instruction.
Use 1. The first is against all such as oppugn this doctrine, chiefly the papists, who are for that, that a man should not inquire after the assurance of his salvation. Such kind of men, I pray you what do they but do as much as in them lieth to overthrow and pluck up the root of faith, and of all obedience unto God ? Oh, what should water my heart, and make it melt in obedience unto my God, but the assurance and knowledge of the virtue of this most precious blood of my Redeemer, applied to my sick soul, in the full and free remission of all my sins, and appeasing the justice of God ? What should bow and break my rebellious hard heart and soften it, but the apprehension of that dear love of my Saviour, who hath loved me before I loved him, and now hath blotted out that hand-writing that was against me ? What should enable my weak knees, hold up my weary hands, strengthen my fainting and feebled spirit in constant obedience against so many crosses and afflictions, temptations and impediments, which would stop up my way, but the hope of this precious calling unto glory and virtue ? Down, then, with this false opinion and perverse doc- trine, which overthroweth all the comfort of godliness, faith, and obedience to God.
Use 2. The second is, that every man then must tnj his title, ivhat calling he hath. The trumpet of God is come and sounded loud in our ears ; I mean, as it is Titus ii. 11, ' The grace of God, that bringeth salvation unto all men, hath appeared, teaching us to deny all ungodliness and worldly lusts,' &c. Not that it bringeth salvation unto all men, but unto all nations, to some of every sort. Now inquire whether this grace be come home unto thy heart, what power thou hast against thy corruptions, what sanctification and calling thou hast.
49G A GLIMPSE OF GLORY.
Exception. There is no man, I hope, that from hence needs to gather any matter of despair or discomfort, for that which hath not hcen it may be. God may have a time for thee ; for who knows, hut even whilst now that we are speaking of calhng, the Lord may call thee, and touch thy heart with a sense of his love. I say to thee, be not discouraged, for there may bo a time for thee. But I say unto such who think they are called, Art thou called ? Hast thou had comfort of thy caUiug ? Deceive not thyself ; look from whence thou art called ; if he have called thee, as it is 1 'Peter ii. 9, out of darkness, he hath called thee to light, yea, out of darkness into his marvellous light. Hast thou seen a rare light in the gospel '? Hast thou seen what palpable darkness thou hast been in ? Hath he enlightened thee now from darkness into holiness, that now thou deli"htest thyself to do the works of God ? If thus thou be called, then hath he called thee ' to a fellowship in his Son.' Shew me what con- formity hast thou with hun ? Believest thou in him ? at least, dost thou receive him oliered unto thee ? - If thou receive him offered to thee, then cheer up thy heart, thou art called ; so saith John i. 12, ' But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God,' &c. What apprehension and feeling of this there wants, if thou hast received Christ, yet power is given thee to be the son of God, thou mayest have it.
Further, I say unto such, what peace hast thou obtained through him ? Having him, thou hast peace ; ' he is our peace.' Look what thou once wast, look now, what remission of sins, what dominion thou hast over them, what peace of conscience thou hast obtained ! His blood hath a purging and a cleansing virtue to wash us from all sin, in delight, love, and appro- bation, as Heb. ix. 13, the apostle shewelh, ' that if the blood of bulls and goats, and the ashes of an heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctified them, as to the purifying of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your consciences from dead works, to serve the living God ! ' Hast thou then peace, and a clean conscience with God and man ? Hath he made it clean ? Hast thou seen thy sin and thy impiety ? and hath he cleansed thee from it by means of life ? Hast thou in thy body been dead, and then art thou alive, and quickened from the dead ? Hast thou found thyself to be aHve ? If thus thou be called, thou art also certainly justified. There is a calling and an election begun, that shall lead thee to life and glor}'. Be of good cheer then : thou mayest rejoice in peace ; thou art certainly called to glory and virtue.
Yet to go on ; he says, ' called us.' This was necessary to be stood upon in particular, that a man might not be deceived of his estate. For as there are some who presume on false and no titles, having no right, so there are some who have good title to glory, yet dare not make claim to the same, nor have any comfort thereof: as, on the contrary, we see some will boast of faith, and yet not know what it meaneth ; but a liking of god- liness in others, a seeming show of it in themselves, haunting of good com- pany, for some respects, and the like, makes a shew of faith ; when those others who cannot see their calHng and election, nor their title, are indeed more happy. For whence is their discomfort ? Not because they want a title, but because they see it not, for either affliction and crosses hath so slurred and dimmed the print, that thej' cannot for the present read it ; or by temptations, Satan hath cast a blot upon their evidence, that they know it not ; or their eyes are so fall of tears, and their mind carried, that they cannot duly consider thereof, though indeed their title be good still. Even as