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It is reckoned by the Apostle as a speciall priviledge even in Rome, and greater then the freedome of the City, Among whom, * 1.1 saith he, yee also are the called of Jesus Christ. It is St. Pauls wish,
that God would give to the Ephesians the Spirit of wisdome, and enlighten the eyes of their understanding, that they might know what is the hope of his calling, * 1.2 and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the Saints. Worth in∣spection is this heavenly calling, were it but for Gods sake, who is the cal∣ler. His works contain far more with∣in them, then the outside promises. Nutshels are but trifles, yet the kernels give contentment to the eater. Oister∣shels are cast to the dunghill, yet the fish is meat for curious palats. Many men have but little-promising coun∣tenances, that have deep-reaching un∣derstandings. The ceremonies of the Law are but trifles to look upon, yet were there deep mysteries contained ••nder them. Men judge of works not ••o much by the outside, as by the fame ••f the workman. Books are often sold upon the Authors credit. Gods works ••re of such a value, as whatsoever they promise at first sight, we are sure much good matter is to be observed in them, ••nd from them. Now we are not cal∣••ed by any mortall Prince, but by the ••mmortall God, whose ends are often ••r different from mortall mens.
Our calling is the more considerable because of our former misery, out of which Gods calling delivers us. So Davids preferment was the greater when he was made a King, because he was taken from following the Ewes with young. * 1.3 Jacobs two bands were the greater riches, because with his staffe only he went over Jordan. The mercy of the caller is the greater, because of the misery the called did endure before. Our condition was obscure before; now it is famous. It was servil before; now it is free. It was full of impiety formerly; but now God hath plan∣ted piety in us. It was loaden with impiety at first; yet now our hearts are set upon equity and righteousnesse. This promotion of ours cals for the more inspection, because of the high honour and great riches we are cal∣led unto. What greater honour then to be Gods children? What greater riches then the inheritance of the king∣dome of heaven? * 1.4 Walke worthy of Go•• who hath called you unto his kingdom•• and glory. Great disproportion there i•• betwixt darknesse and light, * 1.5 Ye wer•• sometimes darknesse, but now are ye ligh•• in the Lord. No lesse difference between
life and death, * 1.6 Yet we know that we have passed from death to life. Every man is willing to understand his own ho∣nours. And we count them but bad husbands that dive not into their own Estates, and are ignorant of their own Possessions. Look then how far spirituall honours and treasures goe beyond temporall, the soul beyond the body, immortall possessions beyond mortall; so much the more reason have we to pry carefully into our vocation, and all the circumstances of it, and dependences upon it. Lastly, consider we the way which God cals us by, and that is his word. Great is the power of Gods word, and wor∣thy to be lookt into. By it God made the world, and all the creatures in it. By it he brought all things out of nothing. By it he brought light out of darknesse. Yet hath Gods word a very different operation in calling of sinners. The same Sermon reclaimes one, and offends another. One man obeyes it, and another resists. This diversity of operation proceeds not out of the diversity of the soil, for we are all naturally corrupted. But it comes from the assistance of Gods Spirit joyned
to the Preaching of the Word, or restrained from it. And are not all these things worthy of admira∣tion?
[Ʋse 1] A sort of secure persons come here to be censured, who slight Gods choise and calling. They never look into the worth nor the price of it. Yet are they wonderfull curious in obser∣vation of earthly things. They fully understand what belongs to their in∣heritances. There is no corner of their offices unsearched. If new honours be bestowed upon them, they know quickly how to take state upon them. But although God dayly call men by the mystery of the Word, yet do they never look into the worth of that hea∣venly calling. Hence it comes to passe that this spirituall honour is slighted. This is the cause why the means of salvation is neglected; because men never look into the worth of our vocation. Yet in the mean while worldly studies are embraced: all means of gain and new projects, are attended. Yea such as often end in losse, are embraced in hope of gaine, because men enriously pry into every hole where worldly profit may hide
her self, but neglect to take to peeces and view the severall parts of our di∣vine vocation.
[Ʋse 2] Yet let their carelesnesse make us the more carefull. Let their negli∣gence make us the more diligent in searching the mysteries of our calling. Let us looke into all the parts of it. This is the way to make us thankfull to God that hath called us. This is the way to make us profitable to men that are not yet called. Let us when we look up to God that cals us, re∣member his greatnesse. Let us when we look downward to the misery out of which he hath called us, remember the depth of it. Let us when we look forward to the honour unto which he hath called us, ponder upon the height of it. Let us when we look backward upon the means whereby he hath called us, consider the ineffe∣ctualnesse of them upon others. So shall we finde the totall sum to be this, That the highest God hath called us out of the lowest degree of misery to the greatest step of glory out of his own grace and free mercy.
One thing more ere we leave St. Pauls exhortation, offers it self to our me∣ditation.
He bids them not look upon other mens calling, but their own; Look upon your calling. Remember how mean ye were once, and how misera∣ble, whom God by his calling hath now made so high and glorious.
Rom. 1.6.
Eph. 1.18.
Psal. 78.70, 71, 72. Gen. 32.10.
1 Thess. 2.12.
Eph. 5.8.
1 Joh. 3.14.