2 Tim. i. 9. JVho hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, hut according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began.
THE deepest truths of our religion were familiar to the mind of the Apostle Paul. He introduced them, on all occasions, as the most forcible motives to obedience ^ Amongst us, their practical efficacy is denied, and their importance questioned. The very maintaining of them is not unfrequently deemed
^ The consideration of God's electing love is here urged as a motive to induce Timothy to constancy and perseverance in the path of duty.
a crime; but we must not conceal the truth, because some reprobate it as error. We will state it cau- tiously ; and it will commend itself to all. In the text, we have ample instruction in relation to the Christian's calling: we see, I. The nature of it —
There is an outward call of the Gospel, which is resisted by many ; but that of which the text speaks, is inward and effectual —
It is a call,
1. To salvation as the end —
[If it were only, as many think, a call to outward privi- leges, it still would establish God's right to bestow his blessings on whomsoever he wilP. But the Scriptures represent it as a call to the adoption of children % to eternal life*^, to everlasting sal- vation''. The connexion between salvation and the call, is, as in the text, uniform and inseparable^.]
2. To hohness as the way —
[If holiness were not included in the call, the doctrine of election would certainly be open to insurmountable objections : but holiness is that to which we are immediately and distinctly called f^'. It is required of us, not only in general^, but in this particular view*. It is declared to have been particularly in the mind and intention of God, in our predestination >", election', vocation™, and in the whole work of his grace upon our hearts". Our perseverance also in good works was equally in his con- templation". When our acceptance and salvation are most distinctly spoken of as the end, holiness is carefully stated as the medium through which we are to attain them p.]
The Christian's calhng is further to be considered, in reference to, JI. The grounds of it —
^ If God has a right to confer the means of salvation on some and not on others, he has a right to confer salvation itself. If the one would be unjust, so must the other be ; and if the one be admitted, so must also the other.
c Eph. i. 5. 'i Acts xiii. 48. ^- 1 Thess. v. 9.
f Rom. viii. 30.
s 1 Thess. iv. 7. Hence it is denominated in the text, " an holy calling."
^ Heb. xii. 14. ' 1 Pet. i. 15, IG. ^ Rom. viii. 29.
1 Eph. i. 4. in 2 Pet. i. 3. " Eph. ii. 10.
° John XV. 16. P 1 Pet. i. 2. 2 Thess. ii. 13, 14.