A learned and very useful commentary on the whole epistle to the Hebrews wherein every word and particle in the original is explained ... : being the substance of thirty years Wednesdayes lectures at Black-fryers, London / by that holy and learned divine Wiliam Gouge ... : before which is prefixed a narrative of his life and death : whereunto is added two alphabeticall tables ...

§. 14. Of the Causes and Effects of Saints Calling.

* 1.1

1. THe principall Author of the foresaid Calling is God, (1 Thess. 2. 12.) The Father (in reference to whom this calling is styled, a 1.2 HIS calling, Eph. 1. 17, 18.) Sonne (who came to call sinners, Matth. 9. 13.) and the Holy Ghost, who worketh in us the graces whereby we yield to the call, 1 Cor. 12. 2, &c.

2. The procuring cause is Gods free grace and rich mercy. For he hath called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, 2 Tim. 1. 9. Men before their calling are dead in sinne, (Eph. 2. 1.) and were alienated from the life of God, Eph. 4. 18. If God of his meer mercy and free grace did not call them, they would not, they could not turn to him. b 1.3 Men at their first calling are meer patients: They have not such ears as can hear Gods call, nor such eyes as can see the excellency of that calling, nor such feet as can carry them to him that cals, nor such hands as can receive the good things that are

offered by that calling. It is God that openeth ears, enlighteneth eyes, and ena∣bleth other parts to employ aright their distinct Functions toward the effecting of this great work, It is God which worketh in you both to will and to do, Phil. 2. 13. God first puts life into them that are dead, and then affords continuall assisting grace for persisting and persevering in that Christian course whereunto they are called.

3. The instrumental causes which God useth for the effecting this great work,* 1.4 are Ministers of his Word. These are those Servants whom he sends forth to call men, Mat. 22. 3. By their preaching of the Word both that wofull estate wherein men lie by nature is discovered, and also that excellent and blessed estate, where∣unto they are called, is made known; The former is ordinarily done by preaching Law, whereby is the knowledge of sin, Rom. 3. 20. and 7. 7. Hence ariseth sight and sense of sin, grief, horrour, and despair for the same.

The latter by preaching the Gospel, which is the power of God unto Salvation, to every one that beleeveth, Rom. 1. 16. yea, Faith cometh by hearing the Gospel, Rom. 10. 17.

4. The highest and chiefest end of Saints calling is the glory of Gods grace and mercy, God would make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, even us whom he hath called, Rom. 9. 23, 24.

The subordinate end is in reference to man, and that to make him partakers of grace here, Gal. 1. 6. and of glory hereafter, 1 Pet. 5. 10.

5. The effects of this calling are Faith and Repentance, the Understanding being enlightned by Gods Word about the misery of mans natural condition, and happi∣nesse of his renewed estate, and the Will being by Gods Spirit made inclinable and ready to receive that good that is made known in the Gospel, by faith resteth on Christ for pardon of sinne and reconciliation with God, and then sets himself to change his former course of life; by breaking off his former iniquities, and by con∣forming himself to the image of him that hath called him, in holinesse and righ∣teousnesse.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The Authour of Saints cal∣ling.
• a 1.2

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. The procuring cause.
• b 1.3

  The Greek words, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, whereby the called are set out, are passive and imply that the called are at first pati∣en•…•….
• * 1.4

  Instrumental causes.