be chosen. This is common to the whole visible Church.
Secondly. Strictly it signifies that internal Call which effica∣ciously
flows from Gods eternal election, and infallibly leads
to Glory, described Rom. 1. 28. 29, 30. This is peculiar to
Gods Elect, the members of his invisible Church, who are all in
due time efficaciously called.
This Calling hath a double Aspect, general and particular:
1. General, towards God in all the wayes wherein he is to be
owned for our. Soveraign, Lord and chief good in Christ; this
concerns all, thus to love and fear, to serve and trust him with
the utmost of the whole man. Secondly, It hath a particular re∣spect
towards Man, in the various Relations of this life, where∣in
every one hath his particular charge to attend upon, in each
respective Station, differing one from another, as Superiour, or
Inferiour, in publique or private, &c.
The Greek word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Vocation, sometimes denotes an act
of God towards Man, calling him to himself; usually it holds
out the state of man whereinto he is brought by that Divine
Act, whether external or internal, whence proceed all humane
Acts in correspondency thereto
This phrase in the Text is comprehensive of all, in the full
Complex thereof, but especially expresses that special state
of Grace and Christian Profession whereto Gods People are
energetically called by the singular operation of his sanctifying
Spirit.
That this Vocation is most eminent, is a Truth confirmed
fully and frequently by the sur-beams of Divine Oracles in
every branch of Gods Word. All the expressions that describe
it testifie so much, being equivalent with regeneration and con∣version,
the new Creature and new man, the translation of
men from Darkness to Light, and from Death to Life;
their bearing of his Image, and partaking of the Divine na∣ture;
their coming out of Bondage into Liberty, by Redemp∣tion
from Satans Kingdom, into Christs own Kingdom, &c.
Instances might be given of the excellency of every part
hereof, with relation to this Christian Vocation. The Pre∣cepts
requiring it, the Promises assuring of it, the prefigurati∣ons
typifying it, the Presidents performing it, are all eminent.