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 ...

§. 20. Of walking worthy our Calling.

OF this generall phrase, Walk worthy, See my Sermon on Ezek. 36. 11. Enti•…•…∣led, The progresse of Divine Providence, In the later end thereof.

Concerning particular rules for walking worthy of our Christian calling, re∣spect must be had,

• 1. To the Authour.
• 2. To the Means.
• 3. To the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 thereof.

• ...

  I. For the Authour, It is God that hath called us: Our eyes therefore must be* 1.1 fixed on him, that we may conform our selves to him, and shew our selves ch•…•…∣dren answerable to such a Father: Thus shall we walk worthy of the Lord, Col. 1. 10 and worthy of God who hath called us, 1 Thess. 2. 12. For this end we must obsen•…•… those particulars wherein God hath set himself a pattern before us, and ther•…•… shew our selves like unto him. Thus shall we shew our selves partakers of the Divi•…•… Nature, 2 Pet. 1. 4. Yea thus shall we shew forth the praises or c 1.2 vertues of him 〈◊〉〈◊〉 hath called us, 1 Pet. 2. 9.

  Particulars registred in Gods Word to this end are these,* 1.3

  • 1. Holiness in all manner of conversation, 1 Pet. 1. 15.
  • 2. Goodness. They that do good for goodness sake, even to them that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 them, are the children of their Father which is in heaven, Matth. 5. 44, 45.
  • 3. Kindness, for God is kinde to the unthankfull, Luk 6. 35.
  • 4. Mercy. Be ye mercifull, saith Christ, as your Father also is mercif•…•… Luke 6 36.
  • 5. Love. The Apostle gives this instance of following God, Eph. 5. 1, 2. Ma•…•… doth the beloved Disciple press this upon this very ground, 1 Ioh. 4. 11.
  • ...

• ...
  • 6. Forgiving one another. Forgive one another as God for Christs sake forgave you, Eph. 4. 32.
  • 7. Long-suffering, Eph. 4. 2.
• II. For the Means, which is the Word of God: that sets forth the very Image* 1.4 of God, and that which is pleasing and acceptable unto him. This therefore must be set before us as a rule to conform our selves thereunto. Thus shall we walk worthy •…•…f the Lord unto all pleasing, (Col. 1. 10.) The Apostle commends the Romans for obeying from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered to them, (Rom. 6. 17.) or that d 1.5 form whereunto they were delivered. This phrase is metaphoricall, taken from a mould whereinto mettal is cast. The mettall is thereby formed into that very form or shape which the form it self hath. If the form be square or round, so will the metall be: if there be any engravement upon the form, the metall will bear the same. Thus they who obey the Word, will be such as the Word requireth them to be: and because the Word hath Gods Image engraven upon it, they who obey the Word, will shew forth that very Image.
• III. The Ends of our Christian calling are great and glorious, which require* 1.6 that Christians do answerably carry themselves. Humane and common wisdom teacheth all men to carry themselves answerable to that place whereunto they are called, and dignity whereunto they are advanced. If a mean man be advanced to an honourable condition, or a poor man to a place of much profit, or a servant made a Master, and a subject a Magistrate, they will not carry themselves as mean and poor persons, or a servants and subjects; but according to their present ad∣vanced condition. Should not they who are called to the high and honourable calling of Saints, much more carry themselves worthy of that calling, and answe∣rable thereunto.

The particular Ends of Saints calling set down in Gods Word, are these that* 1.7 follow.

• 1. Light. God hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light, 1 Pet. 2. 9. By darkness he meaneth that naturall state of ignorance and sinfulness wherein all men before their calling lie. By light he meaneth a contrary state which is illumi∣nation and regeneration, wrought in us by the light of the Gospel, and by the work of Gods Spirit.
• 2. Holiness. God hath called us to holiness, Col. 4. 7.
• 3. Liberty. Ye are called unto liberty, Gal. 1. 13.
• 4. Fellowship of the Son of God. By God You were called unto the fellowship of his Son, 1 Cor. 1. 9.
• 5. Peace. God hath called us to peace, 1 Cor. 7. 15.
• 6. Suffering wrongs. For even hereunto were ye called, 1 Pet. 2. 21.
• 7. Blessing such as revile us. Knowing that ye are thereunto called, 1 Pet. 3. 9.
• 8. The Kingdome of God. God hath called you unto his Kingdome, 1 Thess. 2. 12.
• 9. Glory. God hath called you unto his glory, 1 Thess. 2. 12. By Gods glory is here meant that spirituall glory whereby Saints are made far more eminent then the most glorious naturall men.
• 10. Salvation, eternall life, and eternall glory, 2 Thess. 2. 13, 14. 1 Tim. 6. 12. 1 Pet. 5. 10.

They who carry themselves answerably to those forenamed ends, walk worthy of their calling: As

• 1. They who order their affairs with good understanding, as children of light.
• 2. They who are holy in all manner of conversation.
• 3. They who behave themselves as free men, and live not as slaves to sinne and Satan.
• 4. They who are acted by the Spirit of Christ.
• 5. They who follow after peace, and as much as lieth in them, live peaceably with all men.
• 6. They who can bear with wrongs, and not seek after revenge.
• 7. They who can bless, and pray for those that curse them.
• ...

• 8. They who as Kings can rule over their passions, and keep under their cor∣ruptions.
• 9. They who manifest a spirituall and Divine glory in their holy conver∣sation.
• 10. They who set salvation before their eyes, and shew that that is the mark whereat they aym, that lay hold of eternall life, and with patience wait for eternall glory.

All these, and other like unto them, do walk worthy of their holy calling: i•…•… that they aim at the ends whereunto God hath called them.

I might hereunto adde a conscionable practice of those particular graces, where∣in the Apostle himself doth exemplifie this worthy walking, as lowliness, meekness, &c. Eph. 4. 2.

In a word, the practise of all manner of Christian graces doth shew forth the pr•…•…∣ses or vertues of him who hath called us, and in that respect is a worthy walking of a Christians calling.

Notes

• * 1.1

  1. Walk wor∣thy of God.
• c 1.2

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• * 1.3

  Particular vir∣tues of him that hath cal∣led us to be shewed forth.
• * 1.4

  2. B•…•… confor∣mable to the Word of God.
• d 1.5

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• * 1.6

  Walk as ad∣vanced to an high calling.
• * 1.7

  Ends of Saints calling.