Saints by calling: or Called to be saints A godly treatise of our holy calling to Christ, by the gospell. With the seuerall gifts proper vnto the called: and their counterfeits in the hypocrites which are not partakers of this effectuall calling. Written by Thomas Wilson, minister of Gods word, at S. Georges Church in Canterbury.

Of the religious vse of Gods Name and Sabbath.

Aquila.

NOw may it please you to speake of the Name and Sabbath of God, and tell me how the godly must carry themselues in the vse therof, as God may be plea∣sed: for herein outwardly there appeareth great like∣nesse betweene man and man. The wicked and hypo∣crites in their common speech, oathes, vowes, prayers, confessions, vsing Gods name, and obseruing the rest of the seuenth day as diligently as any; the Scribes and Pharises will be in the Synagogue on the Sabbath, as well as Christ and his Disciples.

Apollos.

Indeede the sonnes of Sceua are too bold with the Name of Iesus; Acts 19. 13. and so were the Priests with the Name of God: We adiure thee by the liuing God, tell vs, &c. Mat. 26. And as with the title of God they are too forward to meddle; so where God hath stamped his Name vpon his Doctrine, his Sacra∣ments, his workes, they with their foule hands are sound to be too ready to touch it: but all they get by vsing or abusing it rather, it is the encrease of their guilt by prophaning so sacred a thing as his Name, which is glorious and fearefull; it being written, That God will not hold him guiltlesse which taketh that Name in vaine. Therefore the godly they very sparingly vse the Name of God, neuer or sildome in their common

speech, vnlesse vpon great occasion, and when necessi∣ty constraines; and then they take it vp with great feare and awe, lest they sinne in vainely vsurping it; praying at least in their hearts, and secretly desiring the Lord to guide them in the vse of his Name: alwayes fearing to apply it to any light and trifling, much lesse to any wicked purpose, as to confirme a falshood, or to cloke a naughtinesse. And this is it which Salomon admo∣nisheth vs of, in that antithesis or opposition between him that sweareth, and him that feareth an oath; Ec∣cle. 9. 2. Hereby teaching, that whereas sinners doe rashly vse the Name of God, euen in an oath without reuerence, or consideration of that awefull and won∣derful Name; contrariwise good men whensoeuer they are to vse the Name of God, in an oath especially, or otherwise, they come to it with feare, lest they offend by vaine vsage of it. Now concerning the Sabbath, they are thus affected towards it: (farre otherwise then euill men are) they doe not supersticiously esteeme it aboue other dayes, as it is a day; but they ioy in the remem∣brance and vse of it, in regard of the worship of God performed on that day, and because of the benefit that doth redound to their soules, for the building them vp into the sauing knowledge of God, and of Iesus Christ his Sonne. In these respects they doe long for the Sab∣bath till it come, they cheere vpon it when it doth ap∣proach, and in the weeke dayes they looke so well to their wayes, keeping in all things a good conscience, and so religiously walking in the workes of their vo∣cation, as when the Sabbath doth come, they can with alacrity and ioy sanctifie it. The men of this World doe not with more gladnesse gather in their Corne,

Wine, and Oyle, then God; Children to keepe the Lords day; Psalme 122. 1. I reioyced, when they saide to me; We will, &c. From the obseruation where of, neither themselues, nor such as be vnder their charge, are held by such common hinderances, as the World is letted by. But as they breake through all 〈◊〉〈◊〉, that they and theirs may resort to the House of God; so their desire & study is to spend the whole day through∣out, publikely and priuately, in such holy workes as are commanded of God, and be sitting his day: as reading, singing, conferring, praying, visiting the sicke & priso∣ners, exhorting, comforting, as occasion is offered, re∣conciling of iarres, examination of their Family, how they profit by the publike Ministery; lastly, by medita∣tion on the creatures. For which purposes they make a cessation from all their owne seruile workes (which on other dayes were lawfull to be done) that they may be free to attend all holy duties of the Sabbath, to obtain fresh strength of grace from the God of Heauen, to ceasse (all their life long) from their dead workes, the lustes of their sinfull nature; so as 〈◊〉〈◊〉 here into a spiritual rest, they may enioy at last an eternall Sabbath in Heauen.

Aquila.

What letteth, but that now we may passe forwards vnto that ranke of good workes, which doe concerne men, seeing wee haue taken a taste of those workes which godly men, and they onely, can and doe performe towards God?

Apollos.

Yes, friend Aquila, there is a 〈◊〉〈◊〉 for wee haue a principal part of godlinesse, yet to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in which we may in no wise passe ouer, and it 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Patience in affliction.

Aquila.

It was well remembred, for there is no more necessary worke of godlinesse, then this of patience; we haue not more need of water and the aire then of patience, and no worke more proper to an elect man, then this; therefore called, The, patience of the Saints, Reuel. 13. 10. To teach vs, that it is peculiar to them a∣lone; and it is there annexed to faith: as also in Heb. 6. 12. as a fruite thereof; Also to hope, as an vnsepara∣ble companion of it; 1 Thes. 1. 3: Remembring the pa∣tience of your hope. And very worthily is hope matcht with patience, and that for two respects; seeing the thing we hope for, which is eternall blisse and rest from our labours in Heauen, is not onely deferred and put off, but derided and scorned; 2 Pet. 3, 4: yea, and we af∣flicted too; 1 Tim. 4. 10. Therefore hope hath neede of patience to sustain it. Secondly, thus yoking hope with patience, we are admonished, that as hope cannot con∣sist without patience, so neither can patience exist, or be, where there is not hope. Hope bringeth forth en∣crease of patience, and patience encreased, doth con∣firme hope; Rom. 5. 3, 4. Finally, there is no worke wherein wee more resemble and shew our selues like vnto Christ, the president and patterne of true pati∣ence, then this; as we are plentifully taught, Heb. 12. 1, 3. Also 1 Pet. 1. 20, 21, 22. Which places of Scrip∣ture teach vs thus much, that Christ in patience abi∣ding his Fathers will, suffering willingly the shame and smart of the Crosse, became an example to vs, that we should follow his steps. Insomuch as the Apostle Paul, Rom. 8. and 2 Tom. 1. affirmeth, that such as doe sal∣low Christ in patient suffering, shall partake with him in reigning and glory. It will therefore be very fit, that

this grace of Patience be distinctly and fully entreated of, and feuered from that shadow of patience which is in the wicked, who seeme to haue it, and yet are no∣thing lesse then patient.

Apollos.

This had beene spoken of before, when we entreated of Hope, whose supporter patience is, as hope is the prop of Faith; but that I thought it sit to place it amongst those workes of godlinesse: and to the last place I haue referred it, because it being a large ar∣gument, it will aske vs more time then at this our mee∣ting could well haue been affoorded to such a copious theame, and spacious matter. Therefore if it seeme good to you, we will let it alone till our next comming together.

Notes

• The true vse of Gods Name.
• 3. commande∣ment.
• As men vse their holy day cloathes.
• And for the titles, words, properties, Sa∣craments, workes of God, their care is to men∣tion them with a godly reuerence.
• 4. comman∣dement.
• The true vse of the Sab∣bath.
• And with what 〈◊〉〈◊〉 they beare their absence from the As∣semblies; see Psal. 84. 1, 2, & 41.
• Patience a ver∣tue proper to a true Christian.