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. VI. V. What those graces are, which especially first put forth themselves.

They are these:

• 1. Relying. Or 1. Faith.
• 2. Repenting. Or 2. Repentance.

THese two are Sisters; they are the Prime∣rose graces, that first appear in the Spring of conversion, or effectual calling: For this Work is called by several names viz. effectual calling, as there is a closing with the call of God, conversion, as there is a turning to God,

and Regeneration, as there is a Spiritual birth, and such workings of God to the Soul, and the Soul to God, as beareth Analogy and propor∣tion with the natural Birth.

But first to speak of Faith, or relying: many [S. 1] controversies there are about Faith, all which I wave as not being made for a Souldier, and being desirous to improve my time, and talent to edification, and not disceptation. I mean that Act of the Soul, whereby it doth rely, stay, roul, and leane it self upon Christ; whose Church * 1.1 and dearest Spouse is said to lean upon him: Spiritual life is from Christ in the Habits, and to Christ in the Acts: by this Faith doth the * 1.2 Soul as Ruth to Boaz, come softly, as consci∣ous of it's own unworthinesse, and layeth it self down at the feet of Christ, saying, I beseech thee, spread thy skirt over thy poor Creature, for thou art a near Kinsman, Bone of my Bone, and Flesh of my self: The Soul put's into the Haven of Christs righteousnesse by Faith: and there throweth it self for life and Salvation. John 3. 15, 16. That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have Eternal life. Before the Ha∣bit of Faith with other graces was planted in the Soul and Heart: Now the Budd's and Acts of that do appear; assoon as there is Re∣generation by an Ingeneration of Divine prin∣ciples, the Soul casts it self into the Lap of Christ, the Armes of a Saviour, and Bosome of a Redeemer; when Spiritual strength is put into the Soul, the first step it takes is to Christ, and by Christ to God.

The Soul now layeth its self at Christs Door,

and gives up it self to the Patronage of his Wing: It believeth on, closeth with, and faste∣neth it self to him by this Girdle, and this Do∣ctor * 1.3 Ames calleth the active reception of Christ.

2. Relenting: The next grace that put's forth it's hand out of the Womb is relenting, or [S. 2] repentance; an aversion from evil, a conver∣sion to good; in heart, in hand, in affection and action: These are often coupled in New Testa∣ment Preaching, Repent, and believe: Believe, * 1.4 and repent: And sometimes the one without the other; & though one of them be not expressed, yet it is implyed: Now the Soul goeth from, and goeth to; from Hell to Heaven, from Sin to Grace, from the left hand to the Right: It's Back is now where it's Face was, and it's Face where it's Back was: The Hebrews have two words growing upon one Root fitly expressing this, and corresponding to the Latine, aversion, and conversion: 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, a turning from, and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, a turning to: What saith the Lord to his People? Isai. 1. 16, 17. Cease to do evil, learn to do well: By Faith the Soul is wil∣ling to possesse good, that is Christ; by repen∣tance to practice good, that is Grace and Pie∣ty: Now is the Soul troubled for what is past, and disquieted for all it's Sins; it hateth the e∣vil, and loveth the good: How sweetly doth E∣phraim through the grace of God express him∣self in the 31. of Jeremy, and the 19. Verse, Surely after that I was turned I repented; and after that I was Instructed I smote upon my Thigh, I was ashamed, yea even confounded, be∣cause I did bear the reproach of my youth: And

how can it be otherwise, when the soule is turned to Christ? It cannot be for Christ and Baal too, nor halt between two opinions. It cannot serve God and Mammon: If it giveth up it self to Christ, it must needs give away it self from sin; and if by Faith it take Christ for it's Husband, it must forsake the Bed of Adul∣terous Love: If Christ dwell in the heart by Faith, sin must out of the House by force; for they cannot dwell both together with Love, and liking: It now lookes upon sin with coy∣nesse and detestation, and upon grace with a pleasing smile: and saith, away ye fawning Flatterers, & welcome Faithful Friends, Christ, and grace: These, namely Faith and Repen∣tance, are the Beames and Rayes of that Sun, which God set in the Firmament of the Soul, when first he Created the new world, and im∣planted grace in the Heart: There is a sweet Harmony, and loving accord between them though of late some have endeavoured to set them at variance, by buzzing causelesse jea∣lousies in their ears, whereas God never set the one for the fall of the other.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Cantic. 8. 5.
• * 1.2

  Judg. 3. 7▪ &c.
• * 1.3

  1. Lib. Med. 26. c. 26. thes.
• * 1.4

  Mark. 1. 15.