Vox Dei & hominis.: God's call from heaven ecchoed [sic] by mans answer from earth. Or a survey of effectual calling. In the [brace] explication of its nature. Distribution of it into its parts. Illustration of it by its properties. Confirmation of it by reasons. Application of it by uses. Being the substance of several sermons delivered to the people of Heveningham, in Suffolk. / By J. Votier, minister of the gospel.

CHAP. XI. X. The means whereby the Lord doth effectually call.

IN the next place we are to speak of those ways and means which the Lord maketh use of for the calling home wandring creatures, lost sheep to himself; and they are either of a lower, or of an higher form:

Of the lower form, 1. Works.

Of the lower form, 2. Word.

Of the higher form, The Spirit.

1. By works: The Lord many times makes common works, and ordinary providences [S. 1] to be especial instruments of grace: All things are in Gods hands; and those things that are of an inferiour nature, can he so blesse and

dispose, that thereby they shall be suited for the attaining of highest ends: Now those provi∣dences which the Lord hath used this way, and countenanceth in reference to this work, are these seven following, which carry Scrip∣ture authority at their backs.

1. By providing yoke-fellows; the Lord [S. 2] makes temporal marriages sometimes means of spiritual; and in this regard it may be well said, that matches are made in heaven, when for heaven; marrying proves to many a making to all eternity; sometimes a man when he hath prevailed with a woman, afterwards woes and wins her for Christ; and many a wo∣man, that takes her husband much with her person, takes him more with her piety: How doth the wisedom and goodnesse of God much appear in this? he brings those together that were most unthought of, most unlikely; he bringeth those together that were farthest di∣stant from each other; thus he makes grace out of nature as it were; and a spiritual uni∣on to grow upon a fleshly conjunction; by means of making one flesh, he sometimes makes one spirit, and doth not the Apostle use this as a reason, why he would have the Corinthi∣ans, not to leave, but to shew love to their unbelieving yoke-fellows: For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife? 1 Cor. 7. 16. And doth not Peter counsel wives to be in subjection to their own husbands? (and to what end is it?) Why, That if any obey not the word, they also may

without the word be wonne by the conversation of the wives, 1 Pet. 3. 1. Many an one may say to their yoke fellows in some sort, as David to Abigail: Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, which gave me such an Husband, such a Wife; and blessed be thy advice my dear heart, and blessed be thou which hast told me of my sin, admonished me of my State, and so hast kept me from Iniquity; for in very deed, had it not been for thee (under the Lord) I had peri∣shed in my transgressions; though there may be carnal love, and a peaceable life between yoke-fellows, yet no well-bottomed affection, if there be not mutual care for each others Eternal welfare: They should seek by exhortation, and conversation, by counsels and commerce; by prayer, by pattern to bring each other into the bosome of Christ, within the bounds of the Co∣venant.

The Apostle condemnes and blames the weaknesse of the Galatians, That having begun in the Spirit, sought to be made perfect by the Flesh: We may congratulate and blesse the wisedom of God, that causeth that which is be∣gun in the Flesh, to end in the Spirit: Some∣time a good Husband makes a good Wife; and a good Wife makes a good Husband; not but that suitable matches are best, (I think) as for parentage, portion, proportion, so for pie∣ty; and that (as I conceive) the Apostle meanes marrying not onely with one that is a Christian, but also with one that is Christs; where he speakes of marrying in the Lord; yet when they are unequally yoked, and pared;

they are to pray and endeavour for an Extract of vertue, from a Contract of necessity: some of you that read this unworthy piece may have found providency improving your match to your Soules advantage; and you that are mar∣ried, and have a Godly yoke-fellow, ear their precepts, eye their practice; listen to their counsels, learn their good customes; mind their sayings, mark their goings; observe their works, obey their words: Husbands and Wives do not forward each other to Hell, but further each other to Heaven: Let not your hands be imbrued in each others Soules blood, but let your hearts be set for each others Eternal good; and strive by your prayers single and sociated, that ye may be heires together of the grace of life: Some out of fancy and vanity have en∣deavoured to maintain that a woman hath no Soul; but both men and women have immor∣tal Soules; and that ye shall know to your cost, and woe, or cure, and neal: The Lord grant the latter.

2. By granting good education: Grace in [S. 3] age many times hath it's foundation in the training of youth: Train up a Child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not de∣part from it: Good Parents, good Tutours, good Masters, good Guardians, good Hosts with whom Children boord, are a great mercy; and many thank God for the time that ever they saw the faces of, and had to do with such: Did not A∣braham read Divinity Lectures to his Family? and did there not grow upon the stalk of his Instructions, watered with the Dew of Heaven∣ly

grace, Fruits of as eminent obedience to the Father of the Flesh, and the Father of Spirits, as ever was, when Isaac was willing to offer his throat to the Sacrificing knife? Was not I∣saac's Faith great as well as Abraham's? the Sons as well as the Fathers? Was not Isaac's life as dear to him, as Abraham's Son to him? and was he not coheir with his Father to the promises? Was not Monica a fervent beads-woman, and humble suppliant at the throne of grace for her Son Austin? and was not the suc∣cesse sweet? A woman much in prayers, and much in teares she was for him; and without doubt Motherly-preachings went along with her prayers, and teachings did accompany her teares; and had she not the desire of her Soul? Seeds of Instruction, and teaching cast upon the heads of young ones under our charge, may through the mostnings, and irrigations of the Spirit sink into the heart, take root, and bring forth a great crop, and large increase of saving knowledge, and grace, if not for the present, yet for the future, if not in the time that now is, yet in the time that is to come, even when Parents are dead and rotten; Chil∣dren while very young are to be learned the word of God, though they know not the work of God; experience sheweth that it is not in vain, nor void. Did not Timothy's being in∣structed in his Childhood (in all pobability by his Grand-mother as well as Mother) for Parents remote are many times as much con∣versant with, and indulgent to their mediate Children as their immediate Parents, and her

indulgency was rectified by grace, to seek his good in the best things.) Help to make him a Faithful man, and a fervent Preacher? 2 Tim. 1. 5. & 3. 15. Nay were there not twins in the womb of Lois her care? And was not the ef∣fect of it double: She taught her Daughter Eu∣nice, and she learned of her Mother to teach her Son Timothy: How careful were the Hea∣thens, that Children might have education mo∣rally good? and shall Christians sit in the same forme with them? Now how many Christians by name may sit at their feet, and be taught more of their duty from them, than yet they have learned to practice? Plutarch wrote a lit∣tle treatise of this on purpose. Plato would have Nurses speak no foolish words to their lit∣tle ones, least such breath should infect them, and such bad aire have influence upon them; yet who regards this work? or considers that from the neglect thereof, as from a root of bit∣ternesse, springs that general Prophanenesse that is in the Christian world: Master Baxter speaks very well of this in his Saints everlasting rest; which is a very choice Book: The Gentry teach their Children to follow pleasure, & the commonalty their Children to follow profit; and young ones are ready to follow old ones: This their way is their folly, yet their posterity approve their sayings, Selah: It is to be noted. Psal. 49. 13. The very Heathens condemn this, and yet Christians mend it not: Crates the Philosopher said; that if possibly he might, he would willingly mount to the highest place of the City, and there cry aloud in this manner:

What mean you my Masters, and whither run you headlong? carking, and caring all that ever you can to gather goods, and rake riches together as you do? whiles in the mean time you make little or no reckoning at all of your Children; unto whom you are to leave all your riches; and do not most care more for the wealth of their Childrens outward man, than for the health of their inward man? such as one saith, are like those that have great re∣gard to their Shoo, but take no heed to their Face: Some are headlesse and cannot; others are heartlesse and will not: By Generation men are temporal Fathers, by education they come to be Spiritual Fathers; and though it be a question, whether the Soul and Body come both one way, or no; yet it is out of doubt many times, that the grace of the Soul may come from the Parents: I mean yet Parents counsel, teaching, and tutouring, may be In∣strumental in the hand of the supream efficient thereunto: Did not Hannah get her Samuel by praying? And may we think, that he that was brought in by earnest supplication, was not brought up by early education? That he whom she took paines for before she had him, she did not takes pains with when she had him? That for whom she petitioned, him she did not principle? If you that read this, can say by experience it is so, blesse God for your Friends, if not, begg of God to make them your Friends. Oh that Parents would bring up their Chil∣dren in the nurture of the Lord; and Chil∣dren obey them in the Lord.

3. By procuring services: By this means al∣so [S. 4] doth the Lord many times provide for the good and grace of Soules; when his intention is to awake his own Servants, there the execu∣tion is in part sometimes by making them the Servants of such, or such a man: when he pur∣poseth to bring them into his orchard, he pro∣vides sometimes by services, a suitable Nurse∣ry for them: Such as he will bring into the houshold of Faith, he sometimes for that end placeth in the houshold of the Faithful; and those that shall be brought into Gods Family, are sealed first in the Family of those that are Gods; and by being Servants of Gods Ser∣vants, come to be Servants of God themselves, by a temporal servitude, the Lord making way for a Spiritual Freedome, and by an Earthly subjection to an Heavenly manumission: So it was with fugitive Onesimus, who fled from the house of his Master Philemon, and besides his thoughts fel into the hands of his Master Christ. Onesimus was Philemon's Servant: Philemon was Paul's Friend; and so by meanes of the Master, Onesimus comes to knowledge of the Minister: and as the one was his Earthly Ma∣ster, so the other his Heavenly Father; for Paul begate him in his bonds; (one Prisoner loo∣sing another) and travailed of him in birth till Christ was formed in him, and so the Ser∣vant became as good a man as his Master: O, Onesimus, little didst thou think what God in∣tended to do with thee, when he brought thee under Philemon's Government: Thou mayest, thou doest blesse God that ever thou camst un∣der

his roof: so it hath been no doubt with many others besides Onesimus. Many may have cause to admire the goodnesse of the Lord in planting them under a good Master and Mi∣stresse, or Dame; whose counsels have been con∣verting, whose words have been working, whose perswasions have been prevailing, whose pray∣ers have been powerful, whose admonitions have been accepted, whose motives have been melting, whose reproofs have been reclaiming, through the grace of God accompanying them: The Lord seeth some young men or maids that belong to his election of grace, and are yet in the ways of the reprobate, being re∣probate to every good work: and the appointed time of their conversion draweth neer, and beginneth to dawn; well, saith the Lord, thou art mine, yet still thine own; mine by secret predestination, thine own by open abomina∣tion; mine according to my bosome will, thine according to thy basest ways; mine by choosing love, thine own by sinful life: thou little thinkest how I will make thee mine own every way: I will incline thine, and thy parents heart to put thee forth, to pitch upon such a sentence; I will displace another to place thee there; you look at the ease, profit, conveniency of the service: but though you purpose, give me leave to dispose: I will so order it, that something read, heard, spoken, done: by some means or other, there you shall be changed, and be made restless till you find me without whom you are lost; that it shall be said, this man, this maid was born there, in the house

of one of my Saints, and holy ones; O the sweet intendings and disposings of the Lord towards us; how the Lord can turn things that seek mans way, to the accomplishing his own wil.

4. By ordering their station: Sometimes the [S. 5] Lord pitcheth their tents in such a place where they shall have means: God will bring the means and the end together; when God fireth his beacon, such as he intendeth shall have warning thereby, he brings within ken of it; when he soundeth the silver trumpet of the word, such as he would have prepared thereby to battle with their sins, he brings within hearing of it; when God sets up a light in any place, such as he intendeth shall thereby see the worst of their misery, the way to mercy, he brings within the beams and rays thereof: God is the great Landlord, all tene∣ments are of his letting; habitations of his appointing; dwellings of his disposing; he causeth some to wander from their native soil, that so they come to have their natures changed; the Lord removeth some from town to town, that he may translate them from dark∣nesse to light: and this we may see in the 18th. of the Acts 9, 10. Be not afraid, hut speak; and hold not thy peace: for I am with thee, no man shal set on thee to hurt thee; for I have much people in this City. Observe here the ways & goings of the Lord: He intended to bring Paul to Corinth, and to have such and such of his elected ones to be converted there by him; whom he therfore first placeth in Corinth, that they might be there during the time of Paul's ministring:

was not this a sweet providence, for the Lord to bring them into Corinth for their conversion? some places are like Goshen, all light; others like Egypt, all darknesse: some places have the dew of heaven, and spiritual showres plentifully falling down upon them; others like mount Gilboa, upon which there cometh neither rain nor dew; some places are as sheep without a shepherd; having either no guides, or blind guides; others enjoy that gracious promise, I will give you pastors according to mine own heart: now for the Lord to bring a man into such a Town, and there turn him: into such a Country, and there by the means convert him; to change ones house, and thereby to change ones heart; to change ones mansion, and to change ones manners; is a precious dispensation: for the Lord as he appointed the time and hour; so the means and place of conversion; yet a fat soil, a place of gain, a good pennyworth, are the things that com∣mend habitations to many: They love to sojourn in Mesech, and to dwell in the tents of Kedar, and have long dwelt with those that are haters of goodnesse. To live neer the Altar, the Ark, the Temple, is a mercy of God, and a means of good: To think our selves best, when we are farthest from the Sanctuary, is a curse: to be a door keeper in the house of God is the way to a cure.

5. By prolonging their days: many live to [S. 6] be converted, who had they died before, had been condemned: our times also are in the hands of the Lord, he knoweth the day and

hour of the conversion of his elect; he will keep off dangers, remove destruction, defer death; not terminate their time, but continue their natural course, lengthen their life; till the hour of their holinesse, the time of their turning, the day of their deliverance be come; for had they died before, they had died in wickedness; and had they died in wickedness, they had been undone by wrath; they had died in present sin, and could not have escaped eternal sorrow; as we may see the housholders hiring of labourers into his vineyard; some were called at the ninth, others at the tenth, and eleventh; now had they died in the fourth, fifth, sixth, &c. hour of the day, what had become of them then? and so the theefe upon the crosse, that was converted; had he suffred, or been cut off before, where had been his repentance? it is true, Gods determination cannot be frustrated; but his decree fixeth as the end, so the means; and amongst means, time, as well as other things, are the object of his purpose; many had they died, had never lived to grace; many live, that they may not die for sin; many get up from the bed of sicknesse, that they may attain the health of their souls; many are delivered from the brinck of the grave, that they may be brought into the bosome of God; many sicknesses would prove mortal to the body, but that God intends to be merciful to the soul; the Lord delivers from going downward to the earth, because he intends to draw them up∣wards to heaven; and bids death to hold his

hand, because he hath purposed to have the heart: He saith, return ye children of men; that ye may be renewed as the children of God: He many times spares the life, that he may save the soul; and gives more years, that he may give more grace; he preserves from drowning by water, from burning by fire, from distruction by a fall, from death by a blow, that he may principle them with piety, furnish them with faith, restore them by re∣pentance, grant them all grace, and crown them with glory: Reader, if thou beest a Saint, thy experience can bear witnesse to these words; had not the Lord caused thy sun to stand still in the firmament, and kept it from going down at noon, hadst not thou gone down unto the pit, and been swallowed up of hell, and been as those that had been dead and damned long ago? hadst thou died of thy dropsie, been consumed with thy cough, been fired with thy feaver, hadst thou been mar'd with thy maim, hadst thou sunk under thy sicknesse, perished by the pox, and fallen under the fury of any of thy distempers, and casualties which thou hadst, and didst meet with before thy conversion, what dost thou think had been thy conclusion? If thy disease had destroyed thee in thy natural condition, shouldst ever have attained to a spiritual con∣stitution? hadst died a sinner on earth, thou couldst never have been a Saint in heaven; but the time of thy change was not then, but since; and God in mercy added to thy years, that he might add thee to his Church: Thou

mayest take up the Psalmists words with a little alteration; If it had not been the Lord, who was on my side when sicknesse and dangers rose up against me, they had swallowed me up quick, and left me as the object of deserved wrath: but blessed be the Lord, who hath not given me as a prey to their teeth; blessed be the Lord that hath let me live to the day of grace, the month of mercy, the year of Jubilee; that mine eyes might see the salvation of the Lord. The Lord lengthned Simeon's time, that he might see Christ in the flesh; and thine that thou mightest see him in the spirit. As for you that are not Saints; who though you can say these things are so notionly, yet not experimentally; I pray that your parti∣cular experience may plainly prove and make it good; that your life may be prolonged, your days prorogued, and the thred thereof be spun out: and that the event may declare the end, and the issue demonstrate the inten∣tion of the Lord to be the changing of your heart, the altering of your nature, and the sanctifying of you throughout in soul, and body.

6. By giving good acquaintance: First, the [S. 7] Lord acquainteth with his people, and by this means with himself; an associate sometimes proves a guide to good; they light by pro∣vidence upon the knowledge of some good man or woman; and by some means or other come to have society and intimacy with them; who by their gracious words, cordial counsels, loving admonitions, gentle reproofs win upon

them, and allure their hearts to God: con∣versing is sometimes a means of converting; He that walketh with wise men shall be wise, Prov. 13. 20. A friend for the body, may prove a favour to the soul; civil acquaintance may be of spiritual advantage; and from commu∣nion with Saints, some come to have commu∣nion with the sanctifier: How sweetly did the Lord bring about the acquaintance of Ruth and Naomi, &c. first, the Lord sends a famine among the people; (but it proved a feast of fat things to Ruth) then by that means drives Elimelech, Naomi, and their two sons into the land of Moab, of those that were strangers to God; these two sons marry there; the wife of one of them is Ruth; thus she comes ac∣quainted with that family; the men die; only the mother and daughters in law survive, that still here is religious acquaintance; which was blessed to her; Naomi was Naomi to her, that is, beautiful, comely, or greatly moving, as the word signifieth; and so far wrought with Ruth, that she would be of the religion of her mother in law; and liked the God, and People of Israel, better than those of her own Country: Sometimes a chamber-fellow, an intimate, a neighbour, a companion, one whom we journey, or work, or often have occasion to meet with, that is godly, may be a means of our good; as bad companions are very pesti∣ferous, so good ones are very profitable; graceless acquaintance draw others with them∣selves to hell, and gracious acquaintance help to draw others with themselves to heaven;

good company may be a means of life, and bad of death; a good man studieth for the good of those he converseth with; he prays for their peace, sorrows for their sins, labours for their life, cares for their cure, perswades them to piety, and seeks their eternal salvation: Had not the Lord given thee such a friend, he had never given thee so much faith; had he not brought thee into such a mans society, he had never brought thee into his own Sanctuary: The goodnesse of thy company helped forward the goodnesse of thy conscience; godly neigh∣bours are accounted a grievous burden, when they should rather be accepted as a great blessing; they are looked upon as foes for speaking the truth, when they should be loved as friends for touching the quick: They are the best and onely company, what ever the world thinks of them, who are unworthy of them; they are not the troublers of Israel, but seek peace, as between man and man, so between God and man; yet how doth the world slight and scoff at them, vilifie and re∣vile them; contemn and condemn them? but as they said to Pilate, so I to thee, altering the words, If thou do these things, thou art not thy souls friend.

7. By afflicting their persons: This is the [S. 8] last providence that I am to speak to; the Lord breaks down the body, and by that means builds up the soul; by launcings, he let out the putrefactions; by the pruning knife of affliction doth the Lord cut away the over∣spreading, and sarmenting boughs of lust and

corruption; trials are teaching; harms are healing; blows are made blessings; corra∣sives turn cordials; maledictions benedictions; the Lord many times laies on his rod, that he may not let out his wrath; he puts some into the furnace of affliction, and there melts and works out their tin, and lead, and drosse. By this shall the iniquity of Jacob be purged, and this is all the fruit, to take away his sin. Many can say with David, It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes: And with him that said, If I had not been undone, I had been undone. If I had not lost my sins, I had lost my life; If I had not lost my goods, I had lost my God; If my body had not been mar'd, my soul had never been made; If I had not lost a child, I had never found a father; If I had not been friend∣lesse, I had always been faithlesse; an ounce of adversity, is sometimes worth a pound of prosperity; a little of sorrow may sometimes go further than a great deal of joy. Manasses was more beholding to captivity, than his crown; to the thorns, than his throne; to his chains of iron, than his chains of gold; his fetters, than his scepter; his prison, than his pallace: he was too high to be a Saint, till God unkinged him; too stiff to stoop, till God threw him out of his regal chair, and forced him to fall upon his knees; his losse more worth than his gain; little did he think that his parting with all, should be a means to bring him to a part in Christ and grace; the crooked key of troubles and miseries, many times opens

the door, and lets a soul into the chamber of presence; the tossing waves lift up the ark of the soul neerer heaven; such kind of agues are many times wholesome; when affliction shews it teeth and grins, poor creatures are per∣plexed; but be patient, for the fruit may be very precious; the fear sometimes, through the blessing and wisedom of God, is more than the harm: Afflictions are the shepherds dog, not to worry in pieces, but to work to Gods part; not to tear, but to turn: The Lord is forced (as I may say) sometimes to deal with sinners, as Absalom did with Joab, he sent for him once, and again, by his servants, but he came not; at last he fires his field of barley, and then he comes without further sending: The Lord hath some of his elect ones, whom he seeth walking in by-paths, and crooked ways; the Lord giveth a commission to his servants the Ministers, and saith, go invite and call you soul to come to me; and say, Return, Return, O Shulamite: but the soul stirs not; the Lord sends and calls again; yet with the deaf adder, he hearkneth not to the voice of the inchanter; well, saith the Lord, if you will not come, I will fetch you; if fair means will not do, foul means must: Then he hisseth for the flie and the bee of affliction, and calls forth armies of trouble, and gives them commission to sieze upon, and to lay siege to such a man or woman, and saith ply them with your cannon shot, till you make them yield, give up the keys, and strike their sail; he sends sicknesse to their bodies, a consumption to their estate, death to

their friends, shame to their reputation, a fire to their house, and the like; and bids them prey and spoil, till they see and acknowledge the hand of the Lord lifted up; till they hear the voice of the rod, and who hath appointed it: the Lord many times gives strong physick before the peccant humour will away; and winnoweth them much to throw out the chaff; thus he bringeth the buds of grace out of the seeds of affliction; and ushereth in the Lady grace with salt preambles many times; a sorrowful evening may have a joyful morning: There may be crying out in the evening for the pangs of affliction, and crying out in the morning for the pains of conversion: The evening red with the fiery trial, the morning gray with grief for sin, may produce a fair day of holinesse; cloudy and dolorous eve∣nings, may have cleer and deliverance-morn∣ings; the Lord sometimes bends a soul till he makes it meet again, and breaks it till he makes it melt, that he may bow them to his gracious will, and not burst them by his grievous wrath; rather then the Lord will lose a soul that belongs to him, he will lash them till he force them into his bosome: Thus I have discovered unto you the providences of God, whereby he provides for his peoples good: Though there may be others, yet I think these are the chief; may we not now say as David, Many, O Lord our God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us ward, Psal. 40. 5. Have not his people cause to utter the memory of his

great goodnesse, and to sing of his righteous∣nesse, Psal. 145. 7. Oh, oh, that we would praise the Lord for his goodnesse, and for his won∣derful works towards our souls; Psal. 107. 8. That the Lord should thus variously, unex∣pectedly, in all these ways seek the conversion and changing of lost souls, may justly cause us to say, All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth, Psal. 25. 10. and with the same Psal∣mist in another place, Thou crownest my years with thy goodnesse, and thy paths drop fatnesse, [into our souls] Psal. 65. 11. I conclude these things, admiring with Paul, Rom. 11. 33. O the depth of the riches, both of the wisedom and knowledge of God: and doxologizing with him, 1 Tim. 1. 17. Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory, for ever and ever, Amen.

2. By his Word: Now we come to the next [S. 9] means which the Lord maketh use of for the conversion and calling home of Saints to him∣self; and that is the Word of God: That is the instrument of regeneration: It is a word of truth, and therefore fit for this work: It dealeth impartially, doth not flatter: By his word did the Lord work in the first creation, and by his word in the second; by his word he made all of nothing, and by his word he makes new of old; [though that word and this do differ] The truth shall make you free, John 8. 32. The light of knowledge, life of grace, liberty from sin, come by the means of the word; a word of grace, a means of the work of grace: The Word in all the parts of it, Law and

Gospel, threatnings and promises, the dark and light places; Old and New Testament, the writings of the Prophets and Apostles too; every part of Gods word is precious: The Scripture in the plain song of it, and in those descants and divisions, that are run upon it, by the comments, expositions, and writings of godly and learned men; wherewith we do abound, blessed be the Lord: The word read, discoursed of; you may see the commenda∣tion of the word of God in reference to this end, Psa. 19. 7, 8. But more especially the de∣livering of the word viva voce, the publike mi∣nistring and preaching of it: This is the Lords darling, his great engine for the battering down the strong holds of sin and Satan, what∣ever the wretched world thinks of it: It pleased God by the foolishnesse of preaching to save them that believe, 1 Cor. 1. 21. They are Aaron's bells, that through Gods blessing ring all in; the musick of spiritual high sounding cymbals, that charmeth souls, hath not the seed of the word been first cast into the furrows of the heart; and then the fruits of grace have shewn them∣selves; preaching is prevalent; the ministry of the word gets the mastery of our wills: This proposition of Gods mind, helpeth forward the deposition of the old man: The word in the Pulpit is a word for souls profit; as David said of Goliah's sword, so may we say of the preaching of the word, there is none like to it. It is Gods power to the salvation of the soul, his strong arm for the conquering of sin; his hammer for the breaking of an hard heart in

pieces: It is a fire to refine; sope to scoure; a lamp to give light: It hath brought many stones to the building of Gods Temple: This pipe hath caused many to daunce in the ring of piety. This musick hath made many souls merry in the Lord; for the Kingdom of God consists, as in righteousnesse, so in joy in the holy Ghost, Rom. 14. 17. who is there of the family of faith, that must not confesse that the word preached was the means of their grace? but there are several sorts of Preachers, and peach∣ing. It is not every kind of preaching that God owns and crowns; I shall therefore shew you what manner of preaching that is which is a means of effectual calling.

It is and must be 1. Plain Preaching.

It is and must be 2. Piercing Preaching.

It is and must be 3. Powerful Preaching.

1. Plain preaching: The word must be de∣livered [S. 10] in a plain familiar way; not with curious, but common; not novel, but known; not lofty, but lowly; not elegant, but easie words; for the work of a Minister is not to confound the head, but convert the heart; not to rack ones sense, but to rectifie the soul; not to amaze the mind, but to mend the manners; not to delight the fantasie, but to draw to faith; and the plainest expressions are most like to make impression: Let Ministers speak as rationally as may be, so intelligibly: let them speak wisely, so not too wittily: This plain preaching agrees best to the generality of people, whose understandings are but ordinary, yea, very mean in spiritual things:

alas, they are lost in high expressions, and many times cannot see the wood for trees; they admire the Minister it may be, but understand not; they wonder at him, and that is all the work that passeth upon them: They go away, and say he is a great Scholler, when themselves have not learned so much as to make them disciples of the lower form. It agrees best to the nature of the word of truth; the richest coats of arms are plainest, they say: Truth loves a plain coat, and not a gaudy habit: Truth cares not for spangled and glittering attire; it hath native beauty enough to commend it, it needs not artificial: Those that wear soft clothing are in Kings houses; phalerated and embro∣dered words are for curious and courtly ears: Flosculous Orations are for more common meetings, and do not do well in the assembly of Christians: Many pepper their Sermons to make them smack, but forget to salt them to make them smart. Paul was plain in his preaching, and I think the best Ministers may be his Schollers. Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainnesse of speech, 2 Cor. 3. 12. And so elsewhere, When I came to you, I came not to you in excellency of speech, or of wisedom; and my speech and my preaching was not with entising words of mans wisedom, 1 Cor. 2. 1, 4. The truths of God set out with human flourishes, are like a linsey-woolsey garment, and the sowing of a field with mingled seed, which were forbidden, Levit. 19. 12. Spiritual meat is sometimes spoiled with too much sauce: All the Sermons that we find upon record in

Scripture were plain Sermons: Sermons, that smell too much of the candle, are more for the ornament of the Speaker, than the document of the hearer▪ are rather to tickle the ear, than to take the heart: Bombastick words, quaint termes, abstruse sentences, strained expressions; much of Latine, and Greek quotations; (that a Sermon speakes many times half in the Lan∣guage of Ashdod, and half in the Language of Canaan) are much below that gravity and seriousnesse, wherewith the mind of Christ is to be propounded; not that I would have Mi∣nisters have no regard to their expressions; nor that the word should be so dressed, as to ren∣der it despised; some have their expressions too raw, and others too much rost; the mean is to be observed: I would not have Ministers like the slovenly Sons of Eli, who by their homelinesse made the Lords offerings to be abhorred. I would have them to look to words as well as things, manner as well as matter, both in praying and Preaching; Scripture expressions are the best: I wish we would all study to speak more in Scripture Phrase and words; and these are excellent and right words; and as Job saith, How forcible are right words? Job 6. 25. Right plain words tread sure, and leave usually the print of their foot behind them: Love plain Preaching, it is best for your Soul, pray against an itching ear.

2. Piercing Preaching: It must be such Prea∣ching, [S. 11] as may charge Soules home with their sins: Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a Trumpet, and shew my people their transgres∣sion,

and the house of Jacob their sins. Isai. 58. 1. Some are so fine fingered they dare not touch the sore, so mure hearted they dare not search the wound, so mealy-mouthed, they cannot speak hard against sin; some so guilty they are a∣fraid to condemn themselves: A Minister must Preach not as acquitting, but accusing; not as soothing, but as searching; not as discharging, but charging the wicked and ungodly: not as flattering, but frowning upon sin, not as pleasing man, but pleasing God: To Preach generally, & not particularly, to Preach as a farre off, & ne∣ver come near, is not the way: To make all wel, for fear of ill will, is too low a frame for the Spirit of a Minister of Jesus Christ to be in; and argues an heart seeking more it's own tempo∣ral comfort, than Gods Eternal glory: I mean not that Ministers should particularize publike∣ly, persons or names; or that that their words should savour of Spleen and Gall against ought, but sin: But this, that they should charge their peoples sins upon them, as Nathan said to Da∣vid, Thou art the man: So they, you are the people that are thus and thus: Let them en∣deavour to cause them to know that they are the people that have contemned Gods Com∣mands, broken his bonds, worked wickednesse, practised perversenesse, refused repentance, and slighted their own Soules; that they are in a lost and undone condition: after this manner did John the Baptist Preach to the Scribes and Pharisees. Matth. 3. 7, 8, 9. He opens the Book and shewes them their sins, he brings them to the brink of Hell, and shewes them their dan∣ger;

and so doth Peter: Him have ye taken, and by wicked hands Crucified and slain. Acts 2. 23. And did not the Lord blesse this his Preaching: For they were pricked in their hearts, and said to Peter, and the rest of the A∣postles; Men and Brethren what shall we do? Verse 37. And so again in Acts 8. 20, 21, 22, 23. Read them I pray. How terrible doth Peter thunder there against Simon Magus, and come home to him? My heart riseth much a∣gainst flattery, especially in a Ministery; it is a most desperate thing, and of cursed conse∣quence: There is not a speedier way to damn people, whereas a Ministers work is to Preach their Soules to Heaven: For Ministers to ho∣ver, and keep at a distance in their Preaching, and never seek to come home, nor get into the conscience, argueth cowardize, or unskilful∣nesse: Such Preaching will bring little of com∣fort to the Pastor, or conversion to the people: It is said of Bernard, that once he Preached a curious, neat, flourishing Sermon, and every one was taken with it, though not by it; but he was sad and heavy thereupon; soon after he Preached another Sermon, not of kin to the for∣mer, but an home, searching, pressing Sermon it was; no commendation of this as of the for∣mer: But he carried it very lightsomely, and cheerfully to what he did before; the people asked him the reason of his so various & divers deportment; he answers, yesterday I Prea∣ched Bernard, to day Christ; yesterday my self, to day my Saviour: Though people con∣demn such kind of Preaching, yet God will

crown it; though it be harsh to flesh and blood, yet it is health to the Soul and Spirit; many look upon it as needlesse, when the Lord knows it is very needful.

3. Powerful Preaching: Powerful, zealous [S. 12] Preaching is a means of effectual calling. Mi∣nisters should Preach not with affectation, but affection; not with formality, but fervency; not with listlinesse, but livelinesse: Sermons should be fired with zeal, and filled with love? Cold, dead, lazy Preaching maketh Christians thereafter; faint wooing for Christ goes away with a denial; if they be not more hot in their work, they can never win the castle of the heart for Christ: Eli's vile Children feared not their Fathers faint chiding: The Lord did earnestly protest to his people by his Ministers. Jer. 11. 7. I earnestly protested saith the Lord; or as in the original; protesting I protested: I deliver∣ed my mind to you over, and over; which sheweth earnestnesse: Earnest Preaching many times brings early practice: Ministers should first warm their hearts at the Spirits fire, and then warm their Sermons at their hearts; they should so speak that their words may seem not to fall from their heads, but to rise from the hearts; & what comes from the heart is most like to go to the heart: To speak as if one were afraid to wake the sleepers; to disquiet sin, as if one had no sence of grace, or sin; of mercy, or misery; is like to prove fruitlesse, and without good issue: Sinners are asleep, and they must be rouzed; they are se∣cure, and they must be rounded; and they are regardlesse, and must be ratled; as the

word should be mixed with Faith in the hea∣rer, so with fervency in the Preacher.

It is said of that eminent Divine Master Per∣kins, that in his Preaching he would pronounce the word [Damn] with such an Emphasis that he left a trembling impression upon the Spirits of his Auditors: Ministers must be Boanerges, Sons of Thunder, as well as Barjonas, Sons of Consolation; when they speak they should speak as the Oracles of God, powerfully, pres∣singly; vehemently, urgingly: Reader, when the word hath been powerfully Preached to thee, in a zealous, stirring way; hast thou not had some convictions, have not the secrets of thine heart been made manifest, and thou been constrained to fall down, and worship God, and report and say, the Lord is in this Mini∣ster of a truth? Hast not been almost a Chri∣stian thereby? and thou that art Godly, did not the Lord use the obstetrication of means of such kind of Preaching, for bringing forth the Man-child of grace? The Lord give such Watch-men, such Work-men, where they are wanted; the Lord blesse them where they are seated: Was not Christs Preaching after this manner? How Pathetically doth he expresse himself? Luke 13. 34, 35. And can we learn of a greater Doctor than he? And what else doth Paul mean and intend, but earnest Preaching, in his counsel to Timothy? Preach the word, be instant in season, out of season. 2 Tim. 4. 2. that is, be earnest, pressing; be urgent, as some trans∣late the word.

2. Means of the higher forme: Now we [S. 13]

come to speak of means of a superiour order, and that is the Spirit of the Lord; the Spirit and the Word go together: the one as the Ser∣vant, the other as the Master, the one as the In∣strument, the other as the Agent; the one as Organical, the other as Authentical; as Christ said to his Disciples. John 15. 5. so may the Spi∣rit say to providences and the word, without me ye can do nothing: These wheeles would ne∣ver go, if the Spirit did not drive them; these sailes would never fill, if that did not blow hard; these means would be but as dead car∣casses, if that did not enliven them: Words would be but wind without the Spirits work∣ing: If the word be not in the Spirits hand, it will never cut down the weeds of sin, nor slay the Goliah of natural rebellion; therefore is it called the sword of the Spirit. If the Spirit joyn not it self to the chariot, it will move heavily, as if the wheeles were taken off: Ex∣cept the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it: Unlesse the Spirit move upon the face of the Soul, nothing will be brought to ripenesse and perfection: As an Heathen could say when he had done some piece of eminent service; It was not I that did this exploit, but the Gods used me as an Instrument: So may the fore-mentioned means say, It is not we that have converted, but the Spirit by us; and may answer as Peter, if we be examined of the good that sinful Soules have received, Be it known unto you all, that by the power of the Spirit these Soules are alive this day: If the Spirit do not prosper providences, and work with the

word; the Soul can never be changed: It is his proper work to give grace, to grant holi∣nesse; and therefore is he called the Holy-ghost; as is his name, so is his nature; and as his condition is, so is his operation: If the Spirit sit not at the stern, the Minister shall plie the oar in vain: Ministers may Act secon∣darily, but the Spirit primarily; they as choice subservients, but the Spirit as chief superinten∣dent; they may carry on their work artifi∣cially as Servants, but the Spirit architectoni∣cally as Master; they may Preach out their hearts, and if the Spirit doth not put out his hand, Soules may go to Hell after all.

Now the Spirit helpeth, and carrieth on this work by these actings.

The Spirit:

• 1. Perswadeth.
• 2. Fasteneth.
• 3. Applieth.
• 4. Examineth.
• 5. Concludeth.
• 6. Disquieteth.

1. The first work of the Spirit is to perswade [S. 14] the Soul to believe those things that are spoken: Truths heard and not believed, will take no place: The word Preached did not profit them, not being mixt with Faith in them that heard it. Heb. 4. 2. The word was propounded to many, yet profited but some; taught to divers, yet took but a few; the word the same, but not the work: And the cause was as perswasion in the one, so misperswasion, or non-perswasion in the other: If we be not perswaded of the sweet of a promise, of the soure of a threatning, of the

reality of consolations pronounced, of the cer∣tainty of comminations denounced, of the ve∣rity of Doctrine commended, and the necessi∣ty of duty commanded, they may strike our ear, but they will never reach the heart: If one hear of a receit for the bodies good, and be∣lieve not the contents thereof, it will do them no good; so it is in this case; the Scripture is an whole Book of receits for our restitution, of remedies for our maladies, which we shall never follow, if we believe not the vertue and use of them: An unbelieving heart is like san∣dy barren ground: Now it is the work of the Spirit to perswade: The belief of the misery of our Soules, the mercy of a Saviour; of the willingnesse and worthinesse of Christ in refe∣rence to redemption; of the nature of sin, and the need of Sanctity cannot be wrought in our Soules, without the power of the Spirit: We can∣not perswade our selves, the Minister cannot per∣swade us without the influx of the Holy-ghost: We may go down into the Waters of the word, and if the Spirit move not them and us, we may come up again as leprous as ever we were: Let the Minister informe soundly, reprove sharply, examine searchingly, and exhort sweetly, yet all is nothing, unlesse the Spirit do something: But the Spirit deals and treats with the Soul; pro∣pounds, delivers the truth of God; answers objections, silenceth queries; infallibly de∣monstrates, and by such strong Mediums proves it's Divine conclusions, that the Soul is non∣plus'd, confuted, hath nothing to say, and is now so clearly convinced, that (unlesse it

would deny principles, and shut it's eyes against the light of Argument) it must needs come over to the Spirits part, and be of it's mind: You that are effectually called, what say you? till the Spirit perswaded you, could man pre∣vail with you? till you believed indeed the writings of the Prophets and Apostles, and the sayings of Ministers from thence, did you getany good? till then was not allspoken, as to the dead?

2. It fasteneth: In the next place the Spirit [S. 15] fasteneth, and fixed some word, or providence upon the Soul, which it cannot forget or shake off; and causeth it like Mary to keep all these things, and ponder them in their heart. Some general thoughts and sence of the word belie∣ved, of providences experimented, do light up∣on the Spirit of a man or woman, but are soon scared away: Now the Spirit cometh and hol∣deth these things to the heart; the sound of the word cometh and goeth; and the Lord in his providences passeth by us, and we take little notice of him: But the Spirit as the Master of the assemblies fasteneth something like a naile in a sure place; and strikes the arrow into the side; the Soul would put all away, and thrust all out of doors, by company, mirth, by let∣ting in thoughts of vanity: but the Spirit stri∣veth against this stream; and now the requiring repentance, pressing piety, reproving iniquity in general, or such a sin in particular, the threatning of fury, promising favour, such a passage, or such a phrase in the Ministery of the word; and for providences, the visiting with sicknesse, the lessening the estate, the preser∣ving

from danger, the saving from wrack, or the like; are so tied by the Spirit to the Soul, that it cannot get loose from them; and come so freely into it's thoughts, that it cannot avoid acquaintance with them; and now saith, Oh such an expression of the Minister, what means it? by this providence, what doth the Lord in∣tend? and where ever it is going, whatever it is doing almost, these things and thoughts do interveen; the Soul cannot but revolve and turn them up and down in it's mind.

3. It applieth: The Spirit helpeth the Soul [S. 16] to apply to it's self in particular, what is spo∣ken in the general: We are all prone to ex∣cuse our selves; and are like little Children, who when they see their image in a glasse, think it is not themselves, but another Baby: Our faces are shewed us in the glasse of the word, the Mirrour of truth, the clear Waters of the Scrip∣tures, and we think it is another, and not our selves, that we see: But the Spirit causeth the Soul to say, I am the man, the woman, that am spoken to; this sin that is spoken against and threatned, is my darling, my minion; these curses, these woes mentioned are my portion and my lot; if exhortations to self examinati∣ons, to repentance, to reforming; the Soul lookes upon it self, as the mark that is aimed at: Some Ministers Preach generally, and many people understand as generally: It is no good manners to others, nor charity to our selves, to put off all to them, and take nothing to our selves: If the word, or works, and our Soules do not meet, God, and we cannot meet: He

that applies not the written word, wil never ap∣ply the substantial word; no hand, but the Holy-ghost can cause a Soul to make application.

4. It examineth: In the next place the Spirit [S. 17] puts on the Soul to examine and search it self: The Spirit holdeth the Scales, and forceth the Soul into the Ballances of the Sanctuary, that there it may be weighed, to see whether it be light or massy; that produceth the touch-stone, and causeth the Soul thereby to try it self, whe∣ther it be reprobate, or right Silver; whether it be counterfeit, or currant; Gold or drosse, for all it's glistering: The Spirit giveth light, whereby it may search all the roomes of it's Soul, and corners of it's heart; for without the candle of the Lord can none make exact inqui∣sition into their own state. What Solomon spea∣keth of the Spirit of a man, we may most truely affirme of the Holy-ghost, that it is the Candle of the Lord, searching all the inward parts of the belly. It is our duty, but we are naturally un∣willing to Spiritual self scrutinies; the Spirit brings the Soul into it's study, and makes it sit down in the chaire of sober and serious medi∣tations, and gather up all those loose writings that lay scattered about in the deske of con∣science, and causeth it to peruse, and read them over: It openeth the Book, and causeth the Soul to look it over from one end to the other: We neither can, nor will of our selves enquire into our own hearts, till the Spirit lay us upon the Bed of contemplation, and cause us to com∣mune with our own hearts, and be still. That layeth the map before us, and openeth our eyes

to view the Character, and lineaments of our selves. The Spirit also keepeth the Soul close to this taske, whereas like a truantly Boy, it would fain break loose from it's Book: It way∣teth the Soul with the consideration of the ad∣vantagious issue, that it grow not weary of it's imployment.

5. It concludeth: It helpeth the Soul to con∣clude [S. 18] it self miserable: The Spirit is the most rational Disputant in the world. When we have seen the worst of our selves, we would yet fain go away with a sence of some worth; though we see the premisses never so manifest∣ly, yet we are loth to draw up the conclusion: Though the word & our hearts have been laid together, and the great unsuitablenesse of the latter to the former is evident, yet we are loth to inferre from thence that we are sinners; though it be proved we are sinners, and we know not how to deny the sequel, yet we are loth to record it in our consciences, to file it on our memories that we are miserable: but the Spirit repeats the conclusion, till we say after it, and makes us say after it, till indeed we think so; and now the Soul, which way soever it looks, seeth nothing but wrath; where ever it lives, discerneth nothing but vengeance; by the help of the Spirit it hath sentenced and doomed it self: And this sentence being writ∣ten in legible Characters by the finger of God cannot be wiped out by all the art and subtil∣ty of Satan: Paul knew the Law, but could not find his sin and death there, till the Spirit shewed it him. If the Spirit help us not to

judge aright, we are sure to be partial in our own case; which is more desperate than the exactest impartiality. That helpeth us to see the conclusion condemnation, the result wret∣chednesse, the issue misery; till that turn our note we shall cry peace, peace; though there be nothing but wrath and warre belonging to us?

6. It disquieteth: Sinners are ready to flat∣ter themselves when there is cause to fear; and [S. 19] are too forward to presume when destruction is at hand to consume; and though they have concluded their misery, yet they are too slow to look out for mercy: But the Spirit disquie∣teth the Soul, till it be distrustful of it self; and distracts it with care, till it draw it to look for a cure; that it runneth about the City like the spouse in the Canticles, seeking for Christ: It is restlesse till it reveal; disconsolate till it discover; distressed till it divulge; without ease in it's mind till it's case be made known: The Spirit maketh it unfold it's sin, uncase it's sorrow, unlap it's sore; and fills it with distra∣ction, till it find some satisfaction; so that it repairs to Ministers, runneth to Sermons, it turneth every stone, searcheth every corner, trieth all means, till it get some hope, some help: Saul was troubled, questioneth, What wilt thou have me to do? till Christ answereth and bids him go into the City: And so the Jaylour was perplexed, and diseased in his Spi∣rit, till he had some solid direction given him. The Spirit filleth the Soul full of queries, doubts, Solicitousnesse, and maketh it hunt up and down til at last it have that which it should

have, viz. Christ, grace, a new nature; thus have I in some measure shewed you that the Spirit hath the chief hand in effectual calling; and that all were to no purpose without it's presi∣dency; and would have no effect without it's influx; therefore O blessed Spirit, enliven, quicken, work with, and blesse these lines, and all other means used for the conversion of sin∣ners; and then the deed is done, and the work dispatched.

Notes

• 1 Sam. 25. 32, &c.
• Gal. 3. 3.
• 1 Cor. 7. 39.
• Prov. 22. 6.
• Gen. 18. 19.
• Gen. 22.
• 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• Third part cap. 12. S. 11. &c.
• Plut.
• Ibid.
• In anima sit extra∣duce?
• 1 Sam. 10. 27.
• Philem. 10: 16.
• Bonus etiam si servit, liber est.
• Tit. 1. 16.
• Psal. 81 4.
• Valet in∣terdum, pro ani∣mae salute mutatio loci,
• 2 Sam. 1. 21.
• Jer. 3. 15. Plerum{que} dum ••uta∣tur locus mutatur mentis affectus.
• Psal. 120. 5, 6.
• Matth. 20.
• Luke 23. 42, 43.
• Psal. 90. 3.
• Psal. 124. 1, 2, 3.
• Luke 2. 30.
• Amicus animae custos dicitur.
• Amicus vitae medi∣camentum.
• Ruth 1.
• Ruth 1. ••6.
• Bonus sic malo con∣nectitur, ut aut pares red∣ditur, aut cito ab invicem separen∣tur.
• Psal. 119. 36.
• John 29. 12.
• Nocumen∣ta docu∣menta.
• Isa. 87. 9.
• Psal. 199. 71.
• Periissem, nisi peri∣issem.
• 2 Sam. 33. 11, 12, 13.
• 2 Sam. 14. 29, 30.
• Psal. 58. 4, 5.
• Mic. 6. 9.
• Deus me∣dicus tri∣bulatio medica∣mentum.
• Jam. 1. 18. Rom. 10. 17 Nemini blanditur veritas.
• Perk. Rev. 1. 11.
• 1 Cor. 10. 4.
• Matth. 13. 18.
• 1 Sam. 21. 9. Rom. 7 16.
• Matth. 11. 17.
• Non ad raptum sed cap∣tum.
• Predica∣tor labo∣ret, ut in∣telligenter audiatur.
• In medio consistit virtus.
• 1 Sam. 2. 17.
• 2 Sam. 12. 7.
• Semper vitanda est perni∣ciosa dul∣cedo.
• Heri Ber∣nardum, hodie Christum.
• Qui timi∣dè rogat, negare docet.
• 1 Sam. 2. 25.
• Heb. 4. 2
• Fuller. holy state.
• 1 Pet. 4. 11.
• 1 Cor. 14. 25.
• 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Pasor. Lex.
• Nisi Spi∣ritus S. adsit cor∣di audien∣tium, otio∣sus est ser∣mo Docto∣ris.
• Frustrà foris ver∣ba nostra streperent, si inter∣num ma∣gisterium S. S. de∣esset. Ephes. 6. 17. Ps. ••27. 1.
• Acts 4. 9, 10.
• Infidelitas sicut terra arenosa.
• Luke 2. 19.
• Prov. 20. 27.
• Redi ad cor tuum, & subtili∣ter discute teipsum.
• Psa. 4. 4.
• Rom. 7.
• Cantic. ••.
• Acts 9. 6.
• Acts 16. 30.
• Nulla in discendo mora est, ubi Spir. S. Doctor adest.