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A65292
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A divine cordial, or, The transcendent priviledge of those that love God and are savingly called published by Thomas Watson ...
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Watson, Thomas, d. 1686.
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1663
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Wing W1121; ESTC R38240
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88,353
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194
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weak they fled from Christ but after Christs death it grew more vigorous and they made an open profession of him Peters love at first was more infirm and languid he denied Christ but afterwards how boldly did he prâ—ach him Acts 4.10 yea when Christ put him to a trial of his love Iohn 21.16 Simon lovest thou me Peter could make his humble yet confident appeal to Christ Lord thou knowest that I love thee Thus that tender plant which before was blown down with the wind of a temptation now is grown into a Cedar which all the powers of hell could not shake The growth of love will amplifie the reward The more we burn in love the more we shall shine in glory The higher our love the heavier our Crown 4. The more we love God the more love we shall have from him Would we have God unbosom the sweet secreâ—s of his love to us would we have the smiles of his face the kisses of his lips Oh then let us strive for higher degrees of love Saint Paul counted Gold and Pearl but dung for Christ Phil. 3.8 Yea he was so inflamed in love to God that he could have wished himself accursed from Christ for his Brethreo the Iews Rom. 9.3 Not that he could be accursed from Christ but such was his fervent love and pious zeal for the glory of God that he would have been content to have suffered even beyond what is fit to speak if God might have had more honour Here was love scrued up to the highest pitch that it was possible for a mortal to arrive at and behold how near he lay to Gods heart the Lord makes known the Arcana Coeli he takes him up to Heaven a while and lays him in his bosom where he had such a glorious sight of God and heard those 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 unspeakable words which it is not lawful for a man to utter 2 Cor. 12.4 Never was any man a loser by his love to God 5. If our love to God doth not encrease it will soon decrease If the fire be not blown up it will quickly go out Therefore Christians should above all things endeavour to cherish and excite their love to God This Exhortation will be out of date when we come to Heaven for then our light shall be clear and our love perfect but now it is in season to exhort that our love to God may abound yet more and more EFFECTUAL CALLING CHAP. XI Concerning Effectual Calling THe second Qualification of the persons to whom this priviledge in the Text belongs is They are the called of God All things shall work for good 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to them who are called Though this word called be placed in order after loving of God yet in nature it goes before it Love is first named but not first wrought we must be called of God before we can love God Calling is made in the 30. verse of this Chapter the middle link of the golden chain of Salvation it is placed between Predestination and Glorification and if we have this middle link fast we are sure of the two other ends of the Chain For the clearer illustration of this there are six things observable SECTION I. A Distinction about Calling 1. I Shall lay down a Distinction There is a twofold call 1. An outward call which is nothing else but Gods blessed tender of grace in the Gospel his parlying with sinners when he woes them to come in and accept of mercy Of this our Saviour speaks Mat. 20.16 Many are called but few chosen This external call is insufficient to salvation yet sufficient to leave men without excuse 2. There is an inward call when God doth wonderfully over-power the heart and draw the will to embrace Christ This is as Saint Austine speaks Vocatio alta efficax an Effectual call God by the outward call blows a Trumpet in the ear by the inward call he opens the heart as he did the heart of Lydia Acts 16.14 The outward call may bring men to a profession of Christ the inward call brings them to a possession of Christ The outward call doth curb a sinner the inward call doth change him SECTION II. Our deplorable condition before we are called 2. WHAT we are before this call 1. We are in a state of vassalage Before God calls a man he is at the Devils call If he saith go he goes The deluded sinner is like the Slave that digs in the Mine hews in the Quarry tugs at the Oar he is at the command of Satan as the Ass is at the command of the Driver 2. We are in a state of darkness Ephes. 5.8 Ye were sometimes darkness 1. Darkness is very disconsolate A man in the dark is full of fear he trembles every step be takes 2. It is dangerous He who is in the dark may quickly go out of the right way and fall into Rivers and Whirlpools So in the dark of ignorance we may quickly fall into the Whirl-pool of Hell 3. Before we are savingly called we are in a state of impotency Rom. 5.6 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 When we were without strength No strength to resist a temptation or grapple with a corruption sin cut the lock where our strength lay Nay there is not only impotency but obstinacy Acts 7.51 Ye do alwayes resist the Holy Ghost Besides indisposition to good there is opposition 4. We are in a state of pollution Ezek. 16.6 I saw thee polluted in thy blood The phansie mints earthly thoughts the heart is the Devils Forge where the sparkles of lust flye 5. We are in a state of damnation we are born under a sad Planet 1 Iohn 3.36 The wrath of God abideth on us This is our condition before God is pleased by a merciful call to being us near to himself and free us from that misery in which we were before ingulphed SECT III. The Means of our blessed Call 3. THe means of our Effectual call The ordinary means which the Lord useth in calling us is not by raptures and revelations as the Familists hold but is 1. Partly by his Word which is Virga virtutis The Rod of his strength Psal. 110.2 The voyce of the Word is Gods call to us therefore he is said now to speak to us from Heaven Heb. 12.25 that is in the Ministry of the Word When the Word calls from sin it is as if we heard a voyce from Heaven 2. Partly by his Spirit this is the loud call The Word is the instrumental cause of our conversion the Spirit is the efficient The Ministers of God are only the pipes and Organs it is the Spirit blowing in them that doth effectually change the heart Acts 10.44 While Peter spake the Holy Ghost fell on all them that heard the Word It is not the Husbandmans industry in plowing and sowing will make the ground fruitful without the early and latter rain So it is not the seed of the Word
is one of the saddest sights to see a man lift up his hands in prayer and with those hands oppress to hear the same tongue praise God and at another time lye and slander to hear a man in words profess God and in woâ—ks deny him Oh how unworthy is this Yours is a holy calling and will you be unholy do not think you may take liberty as others The Nazarite that had a vow on him separated him self to God and promised abstinence though others did drink Wine it was not fit for the Nazarite to do it So though others are loose and vain it is not fit for them who are set apart for God by effectual calling Shall not Flowers sweeter then Weeds You must be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A peculiar People 1 Pet. 2.9 Not onely peculiar in regard of dignity but deportment Scorn things that are sordid and heterogeneous to the Gospel Scipio refused the embraces of an Harlot because he was General of an Army Abhor all motions to sin because it will disparage your high calling Quest. What is it to walk worthy of our Heavenly calling Answ. 1. It is to walk regularly when we tread with an even foot and walk according to the Rules and Axiomes of the Word A true Saint is for Canonical Obedience he follows the canon of Scripture as the â—reek word is Gal. 6.16 As many as walk according to this Canon When we leave mens inventions and cleave to Gods institutions when we walk after the Word as Israel after the pillar of fire this is walking worthy of our Heavenly calling 2. To walk worthy of our calling is to walk singularly Gen. 7.1 Noah was upright in his Generation When others walked with the Devil Noah walked with God We are forbidden to run with the multitude Exod. 23. Though in civil things singularity is not commendable yet in Religion it is good to be singular Melancthon was the glory of the age he lived in Athanasius was singularly holy he appeared for God when the stream of the times ran another way It is better to be a pattern of holiness than a Paâ—tner in wickedness It is better to go to Heaven with a few than to Hell in the crowd We must walk Antipodes to the men of the world 3. To walk worthy of our calling is to walk chearfully Phil. 4.4 Rejoyce in the Lord evermore Too much drooping of spirit disparageth our high calling and makes others suspect the godly life to be Cynical and Melancholy Of all complexions Christ loves the Sanguine Causinâ—s in his Hieroglyphicks speaks of a Dove whose wings being perfumed with sweet Ointments did draw the other Doves after her Chearfulness is a perfume to draw others to godlines Religion doth not banish all mirth As there is a seriousness without sowrness so there is a chearfulness without lightness When the Prodigal was converted then they began to be merry Luke 15.24 Who should be chearful if not the people of God They are no sooner born of the Spirit but they are heirs to a Crown God is their Portion and Heaven is their Mansion and shall not they rejoyce 4. To walk worthy of our calling is to walk wisely Walking wisely implies three things 1. To walk warily Eccles. 2.14 The wise mans eyes are in his head Others watch for our halting therefore we had need look to our standing We must beware not only of Scandals but Indecencies least by our indiscretion we open the mouths of others with a fresh cry against Religion If our piety will not convert men our prudence may silence them 2. To walk courteously The Spirit of the Gospel is full of sweetness and candour 1 Pet. 3.8 Be courteous 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Take heed of a moâ—ose supercisious behaviour Religion doth not take away civiliâ—y but refine it Gen. 23.7 Abraham stood up and bowed himself to the children of Heth. Though they were of an Heathenish Race yet Abraham gave them a civil respect S. Paul was of an affable temâ—eâ— 1 Cor. 9.20 I am made all things to all men that I might by all means save some In lesser matters the Apostle yielded to others that by his obliging carriage he might win upon them and catch them by an holy guile 3. To walk magnanimously Though we must be humble yet not base 'T is unworthy to prostituâ—e our selves to the lusts of men What is sinâ—ully imposed ought to be zealously opposed Coâ—â—cience is Gods Diocess where 〈◊〉 haâ—h right to visit but he who is The Bishop of our souls 1 Pet. 2.25 We must not be like hot Iâ—on which will be beat into any form A bâ—ave spiâ—ited Christian will chuse rather to â—ie than suffer â—he Virginity of his Conscience to be superâ—â—itiously desâ—â—ured Here is the Serpent and the Dove united sagacity and innocency this prudential walking comports with our high calling and doth not a little adorn the Gospel of Christ. 5. To walk woâ—thy of our calling is to walk influentially to do good to others and to be rich in acts of mercy Heb. 13.16 Good works honour Religion As Mary poured the oyntments on Christ so by good works we pour sweet oyntments on the head of the Gospel and make it give forth a fragant smell Good works though they are not Causes of Salvation yet they are Evidences When with our Saviour we go about doing good and send abroad the refreshing influences of our liberality now we walk worthy of our high calling Lastly Here is matter of Consolation to you who are effectually called God hath magnified rich grace towards you you are called to great honour to be Co-partners with the Angels and Co-heirs with Christ This should revive you in the worst of times Let men reproach and miscall you set Gods calling of you against mans miscalling Let men persecute you to death they do but give you a pass and send you to Heaven the sooner How may this cure the trembling of the heart What though the Sea roar though the Earth be unquiet though the Stars are shaken out of their place you need not fear you are called therefore are sure to be crowned GODS ETERNAL PURPOSE CHAP. XV. Concerning Gods Purpose 3. THe third and last thing in the Text which I shall but briefly glance at is The Ground and Oâ—iginal of our Effectual Calling in these words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 According to his purpose Anselm renders it according to his good will Peter Martyr reads it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 according to his Decree and so Beza Interprets it This purpose or decree of God is the fountain-head of all our spiritual blessings it is causa 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the impulsive cause of our Vocation Justification Glorification it is the highest link in the Golden Chain of Salvation What is the reason that one man is called and not another it is from the eternal purpose of God Gods Decree gives the casting voice in mans salvation CHAP. XVI