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. VIII. VII. The Concomitants, Effects, Consequences of Effectual calling.

1. LIfe: The first thing that followeth upon [S. 1] Effectual calling is Life; thereby a Man or Woman is made alive Spiritually. This my Son was dead, but is now alive, saith the Father of the Prodigal; how excellent and desirable is natural life to us, so that we are loth to part with it; as one said when his Physitian brought him the message of death; Oh let me live, though it be but the life of a Toad under a Sill: If the life of nature be so sweet, how much sweeter then is the life of grace; natural inspirations have their expirations: but Spiritual breath can never be totally stopped; the Earthly life may be terminated, but the Spiritual cannot;

a life of vegetation, which Plants have, is some∣thing; a life of sence, which Beasts have, is more; a life of reason, which Men have, trans∣cendeth the other; but a life of grace, which Saints have, transcends them all: A living Dog is better than a dead Lion: A Flie, because it hath life, is more excellent than the glorious and shining body of the Sun; when good old Jacob heard news of his Joseph, it was a com∣forting cordial to him, and reviving of his Spi∣rits: It is enough, Joseph my Son is yet alive: So saith a gracious Heart, The Lines are fallen to me in pleasant places, I have a goodly Heritage: I am alive through the quickening grace of God, pleasures, sin, world, vanity, away, be gone; it is enough, I have enough; Oh bles∣sed be the Lord that hath redeemed me from the grave; I was alive once in thought, I am alive now in truth; I was alive to my own see∣ming, I am alive to my Souls saving; sin lived, and I was dead; sin is dead, and I am alive; there is joy at Mans coming into the world, sor∣row at his going out; so delightful is life, so dolorous are the thoughts of death; those that are effectually called are born never to die; and how can they be but alive who come to Christ, who is life it self, as he is the true light to enlighten, so the true life to enliven the Soul; if the touch of dead Elisha's bones could make alive, how much more then the touch of a li∣ving Christ? All Saints are as the Children of light, so of life. Christ said, Ye will not come unto me that ye might have life. John 5. 40. Then those that come to him, have life from

him: He that believeth on the Son hath everla∣sting life. John 3. 36. He hath that life begun which shall be ever. God hath breathed the breath of life into such; they then must needs be living Souls. Such live a noble, Heavenly, compleat raised life; we may say of such as David, Lord thou hast made them little lower than the Angels, and hast crowned them with glory and honour. Psal. 8. 5. Natures life is not to be compared with this.

The voice of Christ is quickening; for he saith, the houre is coming, and now is, when the dead shal hear the voice of the Son of God; and they that hear shall live; Christ hath cal∣led and caused thee to hear, and thou doest live; to be in the Land of the Spiritually li∣ving is no small matter.

2. Liberty: All that are effectually called, [S. 2] have this effect of their calling, that they are set at liberty▪ Liberty is that we all crave; li∣berty is that which onely Saints have. It is every ones Prayer, onely the Saints priviledge; not a liberty to sin do I speak of, but a liberty from sin; not a liberty from good, but to good: such onely have the true liberty of conscience, which many misse of while they muse on it; to do what we would is not Freedom, but servi∣tude; to do what God would, is the Freedom that belongs to the Citizens of the Heavenly corporation, the City of God, the Church of God; a natural Man is a Vassal, a Slave to the tyranny of his lusts and sin: but a Saint is free from sin, from the penalty, and from the power of it; from it's Domination, though not

it's Inhabitation; free from it in affection, though not in Action; free from Hell also, though not from the desert, yet from the death of Hell; free from the Law, in regard of justi∣fication, though not in regard of sanctification; free from the condemnation, though not from the commination of the Law; and can it be otherwise with them who are in Christ? he makes all his, Free-men, Free-women: If the Son shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. John 8. 36. This Freedom is of an excellent nature; one told a certain people once that if they knew what a Jewel liberty were, they would not part with it for all the Riches of Persia; what a Pearl then is this liberty? Now may a Man or Woman say, as they in Psal. 124. 7. Our Soul is escaped as a Bird out of the snare of the Fowlers; the snare is broken and we are escaped: How glad is a converted Man, or Woman, with Joseph, that they are out of Prison, out of the stocks? that their shackles are undone, their manacles filed off, the Chaines of their captivity loosed, and their Souls set in a large place; such may say with David in Psal. 4. 1. Thou hast enlarged me when I was in distresse: Thou didst visit me when I was in Pri∣son, and redeeme me when I was a Galley-Slave. Galat. 5. 13. Ye have been called unto liberty: What contendings, what pleadings, what strivings in the world for liberty, till peo∣ple bring themselves into bondage again? It is in truth, and indeed; in Christ, in grace. The Soul that knows what sin is cannot but excee∣dingly rejoyce at its redemption; and keep

Holy-day in remembrance of its deliverance from Egypt, and the House of bondage; and sing songs of praise to that God, that Christ, that Spirit, whose hand brought it out of thrall; here is Freedom, yet service; but the service is no diminution, or lessening of the Freedom; for it is such service as is not in the world: It is liberty to the fall, to the heigth.

3. Fellowship with Christ: All that are cal∣led [S. 3] are called to this: By whom ye are called un∣to the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ: What an high dignity is this that poor Worms, dust, and ashes should be advanced to communion with Christ? How do Men of parts, and greatness, who converse with the sages, and honourable ones of the world think themselves to move in a higher spheare and orbe than others; How much then is that Man advanced to a condi∣tion above others, whose converse is with Christ, who is full of wisedom and glory? con∣verted ones have Fellowship with Christ in a moral sence as one Friend converseth with an∣other; or with any delightful and suitable ob∣ject; they speak to Christ by supplication, Christ speakes to them by Predication, by Prea∣ching inward and outward; though Christ and they be as far distant from each others, as Heaven is from Earth, yet is their conversation in Heaven with him; as the Queen of Sheba had communion with Wise Solomon, by que∣stions to him, and answers from him; so hath the Soul of a Saint with the true Solomon Jesus Christ, who is the wisedom of the Father; Faith and desire are the feet of the Soul, which bring

it from far into the presence of Christ, and when there, it sits down at his feet, to hear his wise sayings, and with humility and modesty to propound the cases of its tender conscience, and with admiration saith as she, Happy is my Soul, happy are all thy Servants which stand continually before thee, and that hear thy wisedom; the Soul is carried up to Heaven in the fiery chariot of zealous and fervent Medi∣tation, and with Christs gracious leave sits down by his Right hand, and talkes with him of all its sins, and all his loves; of all its miscar∣riages, of his peerelesse mercy, of its meaneness, and insufficiency; of his merit and all sufficien∣cy; of its desert of Hell, and his desire to save it; of its perversenesse, of his patience; of it's frowardnesse, of his forwardnesse; of its stan∣ding out rebelliously against him, when time was of his coming into it powerfully, yet sweet∣ly in conversion; and thus goeth on till silen∣ced with wonderment; and then Christ takes the Soul, and leading it by the hand, sheweth it all about his banquetting house, and display∣eth his banner of love over it; openeth his flagons, giveth his Apples to it; smileth upon it, unbosomes himself; and tells the Soul of his Fathers, and his compact from Eternity for its Salvation, and shewes it its name written in Golden Characters upon his never dying, ever yerning heart; shewes it the glory of its future mansion; and walkes with it from one end to the other of the streets of the New Jerusalem, upon the firme pavement of purest love; opens the record and roules of Heaven, and shewes

it it's debts, and scores, crossed with red Lines of his own heart blood; and tells it of his former suiting and wooing it, and how he wan upon it's heart; and made it pant and long for him, till it was sick of love; he tells it of the kindnesse of it's youth, and of the love, of it's espousals, How it went after him in the wilder∣nesse, in a Land that was not sown; and left all for his sake, then it was Holinesse unto the Lord, and the first Fruits of his encrease: And saith, well done my dearest spouse, that thou keepest thy Garments clean, thine Heart entire for me: And as for thy backslidings, under which thou labourest, over which thou mournest, against which thou strivest, I have seen them, and will heal them. Thus do Christ, and the Soul by the help of his Spirit maintain an Holy Dialo∣gue between them: Oh the sweet entercourse and discourse that is between them; that the Soul saith, let us build Tabernacles here; what gracious heart doth not dance within at the thoughts of this Fellowship? and may not say truely my Fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ? whereas the converse of the wicked is with their sins, and sinners like themselves; these are the subject of their thoughts, the Center of their Meditations, and the object of their Souls delight; the drun∣kard converseth, and hath Fellowship with his Cups, the unclean person with effeminate ones; the covetous Man with the World; and every sinner with his Dalilah, but the Christian with his Christ: Then in the next place they have communion with Christ, by way of Partner∣ship;

as the word signifieth that which is com∣mon; and this I think may be called a foren∣sical, and civil Communion with Christ, by way of Analogy and proportion; Christ is the Souls; his Divinity, his humanity, his na∣tures, person; are the Soules: All Christ, all of Christ, all in Christ, are a believers, for by Faith are they united to him, and made one with him; and so must partake of the fatnesse of the true Olive; when it goeth into Christs Treasury, Christs Ware-house, and seeth his spotlesnesse, his Righteousnesse, his sufferings, his death, his Resurrection, his ascension, ses∣sion at his Fathers Right hand, it may say these are mine, and common to me with Christ: Christ is the subject of them, and I the object of them; the vertue and benefit of them is for me: And of his fulnesse do, and shall I receive grace for grace. John 1. 16. As Husband, and Wife may challenge an Interest mutually in each others person and property; so may Christ and a believing Soul: Oh the happi∣ness, of a converted Soul; as Ahasuerus would have Haman proclame before Mordecai; so may we say in this case, Thus shall it be done to the Man, whom the Lord delighteth to ho∣nour with the grace of effectual calling. This is the Company, these are the goods that Saints converse with, that Saints communicate off.

4. Adhering to the truth: This is the fourth [S. 4] thing that followeth upon effectual calling: Their hearts being united to Christ, cannot but be united to his truths; Because God hath from the beginning chosen you to Salvation,

through Sanctification of the Spirit, and belief of the truth; whereunto he called you by our Gospel. 2 Thes. 2. 14. Suppose this whereunto hath reference unto the whole that went be∣fore, then belief of the truth is included: Many Books have it not 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 in the neuter gender, but 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 in the Feminine, and many Latine Books follow this; and so then whereunto may referre to truth, or belief: so that it is plain that when they were called, and converted by the Gospel, they were called to the belief of the truth as well as other things: It is a precious mercy, when Soules can say with Paul, that through the grace of God, They can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth. 2 Cor. 13. 8. This is a great favour at all times, but espe∣cially in this age, when there are so many backsliders, and Revolters from the truths of God; when others fall, that some should stand; when others like Weather-cocks turn every way, that some should stand as firme Pillars in the house of their God; when others like Chil∣dren are tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of Doctrine, that Gods people should speak, and keep to the truth in love; when others are like wandring Planets, that they should be fixed Starres in the Right hand of the Father, when others by vain janglings come to fall off from, and reject the truth, they by humble and sober inquiries find out, and receive the truth: Christ promised, that if any do his Fathers will, he shall know of the Doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether he speak of him∣self. John 7. 17. It is true of all Doctrine;

those that are Doers, are discerners; those that are gracious, have that Spirit within them, whereby they know light from darknesse, truth from errour, that which is sound from that which is rotten; and can judge of that which is taught, whether it be Heaven or Earth-born; from God or from Men; that which is chaffe they refuse, the pure grain they embrace; the drosse they put away, the massy Gold they take to themselves.

Truth is most welcome, and sweet to them: They receive the truth in the love thereof, af∣fectionately, cordially; they lodge it in their bosomes, and lock it in the Cabinet of their heart: Verity is precious with them as well as Sanctity: They have a care to look to the wor∣kings of their head as well as the walkings of their feet; a sinful notion is displeasing to them as well as a sinful Action; a sound head and a sound heart go together; false Doctrine and filthy deeds shake hands, they can both lie in one Bed: no wonder that they walk loosely, who are not girt about with truth; ungodly conversation is usually supported by erroneous conceptions: but an heart changed by grace doth not allow it self in sin, and therefore nee∣deth not to embrace false Doctrine for the maintenance thereof: It dareth come to the light and a bide the Trial: Truth is it's right hand, it's guide: It hath bought the truth, as the Scripture phrase is, and will not sell it; It is dear to it, and as Jonathan loved David, so it loveth truth as it's own Soul; It beareth wit∣nesse, delighteth in, speaketh, and Prayeth for

the truth; and with the Martyr can say, Though I have not a reaching head to dispute, yet I have a resolved heart to die for the truth: It will con∣tend might & main for the truth delivered to the Saints. Its heart riseth within it to see wanton errour in these dayes take the Wall of truth: Its Spirit is stirred within it to see false Doctrine ride on Horse-back, and truth to go on foot, a begging: Thus it is with those whom the Lord hath wrought upon by grace; they were born of truth, they are the Children, Friends of the truth. And wisedom is, and will be justified of her Children: But as for you who are uncon∣verted; a little matter will divide between you and truth, seeing your heart is not set up∣on it.

5. Justification: In the next place all that are [S. 5] effectually called, are justified, and their sins forgiven; as it is in the Text Vers. And whom he called, them he also justified: There is remis∣sion of their sins, imputations of Christs me∣rits: The Lord taketh their filthy Garments, and causeth their Iniquity to passe from them, and clotheth them with change of Raiment. Their Rags are taken off, and Robes are put on, and they are clad in the Garments of their elder Brother: It is a sign of favour from the Great Turk, when a rich Garment is cast up∣on any that come into his presence: This is a special favour of God to cast by the hands of his grace, the rich Scarlet Mantle of Christs perfect obedience upon the backes of any; and this he doth onely to his Jedidyah, his beloved one, his called ones: By him all that believe are

justified from all things, from which they could not be justified by the Law of Moses: Moses con∣demneth, Christ condoneth; Moses accuseth, Christ acquitteth; Moses chargeth, Christ dis∣chargeth all his Saints, all his converts, all his changed chosen-ones: This Jewel is hung up∣on the ear, this Chain about the neck onely of the regenerate; Christ takes to himself their unrighteousnesse, gives to them his own Righ∣teousnesse: but as for you that are in the filth of your sins, you are yet under the guilt of them; they all stand uncrossed, unpardoned; what a dreadful thing is this, when one, and that the least of your sins is sufficient to plunge you into hopelesse and helpelesse depths of mi∣sery? You that are Saints therefore consider, what an unspeakeable mercy and Priviledge this is; to have all thy sins done away, and cast behind Gods Back; that he should remember them no more: Your sins are pardoned, though the Teares of repentance stand in your eyes, that you cannot read your Pardon; thou art as perfectly pardoned as ever was Abra∣ham, Isaac, Jacob, or the Saints of the highest forme in Christs School, though thou be but an Abcdarian and mean Scholler, if thou beest called indeed; all is wiped out in Gods debt Book, that might be brought against thee; yea in some sence, sins to come; they are forgiven Vir∣tually; a dreadful thing to see the hand left of God writing bitter things against a Soul; Inpri∣mis for this transgression, Item for such a wick∣edness, and such a folly, and so on in infinitum to a numberlesse multitude of Iniquities: but a

delightful thing to see the Right hand of God dashing and blotting out all, and sealing up the Book of Accounts, and clasping it with love, that it shall never be opened to the Soules con∣demnation: what a confounding thing is it to see a flying roule with a Catalogue in it of sins committed, and curses deserved? what a com∣forting thing is it to hear of, and see an Act of Oblivion and Indemnity, relating to ones own particular: To consider how the Lord hath laid the sins of a Soule upon the true Scape∣goate, the Lord Jesus, to be born away into a Land of forgetfulnesse: This is a singular mer∣cy of the Plural Number, for it containes many mercies in it. It is more worth than all the Crowns and Scepters in the world; and this great, rich, invaluable, pearleful, and peere∣lesse mercy goeth hand in hand with effectual calling, they are loving and inseparable com∣panions: Oh, who now would not prize effectual calling? who would not pray for it for them∣selves and theirs? who would not praise God for it, who are effectually called? since if pu∣rified, they are undoubtedly pardoned.

6. Adoption: Those that are effectually cal∣led, [S. 6] are called to be Children; they are now entertained into Gods House, into his bosome; they are his near Relations; they are his Sons, not onely by Creation, as all are, nor by com∣mon Profession, as some are, nor by Eternal ge∣neration, as onely Christ is, but by Spiritual Regeneration, and special adoption, as his be∣loved ones, as his believing ones are: But as many as received him, to them gave he power, or

Priviledge, to become the Sons of God; even to them that believe on his name: Onely believers on Christ, and receivers of Christ are Sons; and have we not the same sweetly expressed by the Apostle? Come out from among them, and be ye separate saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; there is Gods call, which he makes effectual, by causing the Soule to close with it: Then, I will receive you; and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my Sons, and Daughters, saith the Lord Almighty: There is the precious Priviledge. 2 Corinth. 6. 17, 18. And again, Ye are all the Children of God by Faith in Christ Jesus. Gal. 3. 26. And that we might receive the adoption of Sons. Galat. 4. 6. To have the Church our Mother is much, but to have God our Father is more: How do ma∣ny glory in Titles of dignity and honour, and boast of their Relation and alliance to, or des∣cent from persons of eminency, and think themselves glorious, when drest, and set out with these fading spangles? what then is it to be descended from the Eternal and immortal God, to be so nearly allied to the Soveraign of the world, the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords? when Saul offered to make David his Son in Law, by giving Merab to him; he thought the preferment too high for one of his Extract to make a Contract with a Kings Daughter, & therefore saith, Who am I? and what is my life, or my Fathers Family in Israel, that I should be Son in Law to the King. 1 Sam. 18. 18. And when Saul's servants suit him for their Masters Daughter, he speaks again after the same

manner. Verse 23. And it is said afterwards, that it pleased David well to be the Kings Son in Law. Verse 26. So saith a gracious heart with modesty and humility, sensible of it's own no∣thingnesse: Lord, what am I but a Worm, a Wretch, a dead Dogge? I am a Sinner, and so were my Progenitours, there is nothing in them, or me, why thou shouldest make choice of me to be thy Son: The Soul admires this condescen∣dency of the Lord; and accounts this Sonship worth all; as it is said of Theodosius, that he more gloried in being the Servant of Christ, than the Emperour of the East: You that are Carnal, are Enemies and Strangers to God; you that are called, are his Friends and ac∣quaintance; the other are Servants in the lo∣west sence, you Sons in a special sence: The spouse of Christ is called the Kings Daughter. Ps. 45. 13. Such honour, such dignity have all his Saints; what aspiring is there in the world after greatnesse, renown, honour? insatiable thirsts, unwearied labouring for these things, till Men loose their credit, reputation, honour, lives, yea, and Soules too: but they are not to be compared with this; they are but twink∣ling Starres to this shining Sun.

7. Sanctification: Those that are effectual∣ly [S. 7] called, are called to be Holy in the whole course of their lives: So saith the Apostle, God hath not called us unto uncleannesse, but unto Holinesse: These Heavenly Courtiers go all in the white clothing of Sanctity; the Children of the great King are dressed in the soft raiments of Piety and grace: they walk in clean paths,

they follow Holinesse; not to persecute, but to practice it; not to drive it from them, but to draw it to them; not with loathing, but with love: They have given up their names to Christ, and they would not defile their na∣ture with sin; they have taken Christs pay, and they would not do the Devil service; they study and care to walk with God like Enoch; and are careful to look to the Garden of their hearts, (in which God hath set the Plants of grace,) that the Serpent get not in: It is their meat and drink to do the will of their Father with Christ; they have put on Christ by Faith in effectual calling, and they would not make Provision for the Flesh, to fulfil the lusts there∣of. Rom. 13. 14. They have put off their coat of sin, and they are loath to put it on again; they have washed their feet, and they are un∣willing to defile them; as the Spouse is brought in speaking, though in another way. Cantic. 5. 3. I onely allude; if you enquire, or look for a Man or Woman that is effectually called; one may say he is not here in the way of sin, but he is risen; you shall find them in the way of grace, the narrow strait way; in the path of Piety: Thou that art yet unchanged, art still in the dirty miry road of impiety; with the Dogg and the Sow thou delightest in filthi∣nesse; thou art swearing, blaspheming, drink∣ing, gaming, cheating, scoffing, lying, revi∣ling. Thou art not onely almost, but altoge∣ther in all evil, in the midst of the Congrega∣tion and assembly; that is, openly before all: Thou hast thine haunt with vain persons, and

keepest company with dissemblers: but the converted Soul is praying, repenting, hearing, reading, believing, speaking good, doing good to it self, to others, to body and soul; advising and counselling it's charge, it's Friends: It walketh with the wise; is giving all diligence to make its calling and Election sure, is working out its Sal∣vation with fear and trembling; is watching a∣gainst evil, to good; and seeking opportunities of glorifying God: Labouring to have its con∣versation, as becometh the Gospel; endeavouring to walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, be∣ing fruitful in every good work; and having named the name of the Lord, striveth to depart from Iniquity. This is a most choice Fruit of ef∣fectual calling, to be Holy and gracious in ones wayes and carriages: it is such a Priviledge that but few in the world do attain unto: viz. to have on the cleane linnen of the Saints, to have Holinesse written even upon the Horses Bridles, to be Holy in all manner of conversa∣tion, as he is, who hath called them: A con∣verted Soul rejoyceth much at this, and is ve∣ry glad of it; to find a tincture of Holinesse on all it's wayes; that the clear waters of Sanctity should run through the Channel of his thoughts, words, & deeds; and that all his actions through the help of the Spirit are enamelled with Piety.

8. Afflictions, or Persecutions: And is it, [S. 8] you will say a comfort, a Priviledge to be affli∣cted, to be persecuted? yea, when for Christs sake, a good conscience, and the Gospels sake, it is a great honour; sinners account nothing worse, and it so imbitters Godlinesse, grace,

and conversion to them, that they spit out with detestation, though sometimes in their mouths by verbal resolutions: but Saints have so great an esteem of suffering for Christ, that they put it in their armes, yea glory to bear it, as their Crest. And they departed from the pre∣sence of the Councel, rejoycing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. Acts 5. 41. Is it not the great Commendation of Moses, that he esteemed the reproach of Christ, greater riches than the Treasures in Egypt. Heb. 11. 26. Till effectual calling none will suffer rightly for Christ; after effectual calling some suffer more, some lesse; and every Saint, though not drawn out, yet is habitually disposed to sufferings: How did the Martyrs go to the flames, as to their Bed, and made their torments mat∣ter of true Triumph, and the crosse their Crown? The French Martyr, when he saw the Rope about his Fellows neck, desires to be dubbed a Knight of that Noble Order; and Babylas would be buried with his Chain, ac∣counting it most dear: and what saith blessed Pauls; From henceforth let no man trouble me, for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Je∣sus. It is true, Thieves and vile Persons suffer, &c. But there is a great deal of difference be∣tween the sufferings of the one and other. These are brands of impiety; those are badges of honour; these are for unrighteousnesse, those for righteousnesse sake; these make in∣famous, those famous; these are a curse, those but a crosse, and such as is a blessing, for so saith wisedom it self: Blessed are they which are

persecuted for righteousnesse sake; for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven: Blessed are ye, when men shall revile and persecute you, and for my sake: Rejoyce, and be exceeding glad. Matth. 5. 10, 11, 12. This is a Paradox, yet Ortho∣dox; the name of trouble scareth a great ma∣ny: but there is no reason for it; if you ac∣count it an happinesse to do Christs will, you must needs account it an Addition of happi∣nesse to suffer for so doing; shall a Souldier glory in his wounds received in a just War, and shall not a true Christian, glory in what he undergoes for Christ? Wounds, Scarres, nick∣names, spoilings for Christ sake, are honoura∣ble, glorious, praise-worthy, matters of great dignity, and renown.

9. Perseverance: Those that are effectually [S. 9] called shall persevere, and hold out to the end, they shall never finally, and totally fall away; they may fall away for a time, but not for e∣ver; in part, but not in whole. Though they fall, yet they shall rise again: Their Apostasy gives way to an Anastasy; and their declina∣tion to a resurrection; they may have the fall of the Leaf, but not of the Root; of the Act, but not of the Habit: They may loose grace ex parte sui, but not ex parte Dei; in regard of their own weakness, but not in regard of Gods power, because they are kept by the power of God through Faith unto Salvation. 1 Pet. 1. 5. They are espoused to perseverance, which is called the Daughter of the Great King; grace, and their hearts shall never be divorced, the knot of love between them is tied so fast by

the hand of Heaven. The Gates of Hell shall never be able to prevail against them; they are a Rock in the midst of the Sea, which stands immoveable, notwithstanding the rage of winds and waves: They are Eternal like their Father; a parte post: they have be∣gun, and they shall hold out to the end of their race: I pray God (saith the Apostle) that your whole Spirit, and Soul, and Body, (that is, the powers of your Soul, reason, and affection, and the parts of your body) be preserved blamelesse unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thes. 5. 23. They are like the Laurel, or the Bayes Tree, whose Leaves are alwayes green; not onely in the Summer of youth, but also in the Winter of old age. They shall still bring forth Fruit in old age, they shall be fat, and flourish∣ing. Psal. 92. 14. And therefore they shall car∣ry away the bayes, and the Crown from o∣thers.

The Heavenly fire that is kindled in them, shall never go out; those Wells that God hath digged in them, shall never be stopt by the Phi∣listins, those flowers of grace he hath planted in their hearts shall never be spoiled, or rooted up by the subtle Fox of corruption within, nor the wild Boar of temptation without. Their grace may be sick, but it shall never die; it may lurke, but shall never be lost; it may fade, but shall never fall: They shall never desert their colours, nor forsake the Captain of their Salvation; Deare Friends, and Reader, who ever you are, you will never endure the shock of assaults, if you have not a principle of true

grace within: If you be not rooted in Christ by Faith in effectual calling, every little puffe will blow you down: If you put the action of your hand, and not the affection and resolu∣tion of your heart to the Plough, you will soon look back, and so become unfit for the King∣dom of God; you may have a form of God∣linesse, and an outside profession, and well complexioned face of Christianity, but the fire and heat will soon take off all this Paint; your Blossomes and Buds will fall with an easy gust; you will go back by as many degrees as ever you went forward, and though a Saint to seeming in youth, yet in old age you may turn Devil, yea, & sooner too; and so make good the Devils Proverb; if you be onely called, and are not also effectually called; artificial Re∣ligion, and made Piety is never durable, or long-lived: rootelesse flourishes will soon be saplesse, and hang their heads; if the Garment of your Profession be not made of the Sempi∣terno, and Perpetuano of true grace, it wil soon wear out: If you put not the woofe of an in∣ward work to the warpe of an outward shew, you will never make strong Cloth fit for a Saints back: The power of Godlinesse will stand where the forme dareth not shew it's head: True Saints prove Standers, when o∣thers turn starters: This is your happinesse, ye Children, ye Sons, and Daughters of grace; ye shall hold out, and continue: Let not this breed security, and sloth in you, but rather confidence, and courage, and caution: Let him that standeth take heed least he fall: If you

would stand, take heed, you do not fall; if you would not fall, take heed that you stand; if you would be sure, you must not be secure.

10 Glorification: The last effect, or conse∣quence [S. 10] of effectual calling is glory, and hap∣pinesse in the highest Heavens: this I put in the last place, as the greatest of all: what can be said more than glory, enjoyment of God, beholding his face for ever? And this belongs onely to the effectually called; as in the Text Verse: Whom he called them he justified, and whom he justified, them he glorified: They shall as certainly be glorified, as it were done al∣ready; and this Peter also teacheth, when he saith, Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a living hope, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead; to an Inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in Heaven for you. 1 Pet. 1. 3, 4. Here he speaketh of be∣ing begotten again, which is all one with effe∣ctual calling: and by that Inheritance incor∣ruptible reserved in Heaven, is meant no other than glory: It is undefiled, and therefore suit∣able to them; it is incorruptible, and cannot perish: and therefore they need not fear it shall decay, or be lost, during their stay on Earth, while they are at home in the body, and absent from the Lord: gracious ones shall be glorious ones; Holy ones shall be happy ones: The effectually called shall be Eternally crowned: Those that have Sanctifying goodness in possession, have saving greatness in reversion.

All the rest of the consequences of effectual calling before mentioned are not enough, the Lord will also give Heaven, as the perfection and accomplishment of them all. He hath gi∣ven grace, and he will give glory; and no good thing will he withhold from them that walk up∣rightly: O Lord God of Hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee, that is called by thee: The Lord called them to make them fit for Heaven, (for by nature we are as contrary to Heaven, as to the way thereunto, though we little think it) and therefore have it they shall: Giving thanks unto the Father, (you see neither Pe∣ter before, nor Paul now quoted can mention it without Doxology, and we should imitate them) Which hath made us meet to be Parta∣kers of the Inheritance of the Saints in Light, (what is that but Heaven?) and how did he make them meet? why, that followes, Who hath delivered us from the power of darknesse and hath translated us unto the Kingdom of his dear Son. Colos. 1. 11, 12. What is delivering from the power of darknesse, but the bringing of a Soul out of an Estate of nature, which is done in effectual calling: But as for you that are in your sins, for all your challenge, Heaven, glory is none of yours: this Scepter shall never be put into the sinful hands, the Crowns of this Kingdom shall never circle the heads, that are void of the right knowledg of Jesus Christ: unrighteous ones shall not enter in at the Gates of the new Jerusalem; living and dying in your sins, you shall ever be excluded, and shut out: let the serious thoughts of it daunt thy Spi∣rit,

and stop thy course: Heaven is not for all, onely for some; it is the City, House, Mansi∣on onely of the Saints, amongst the Sons of men; onely converted ones shall be Courtiers there.

Notes

• Luke 15. 24.
• Eccles 9. 4.
• Gen. 45. 28.
• Ephes. 2. 1.
• 2 Kings 13. 21.
• Non est res magna vivere. Sen.
• Conscien∣tia libera inquan∣tum libe∣rata à peccato.
• Med. Ames. lib. 1. cap. 27. Thes. 21. v.
• Liber est aestiman∣dus, qui nulli tur∣pitudini servit. Cic.
• 1 Cor. 1. 9.
• Phil. 3. 20.
• 1 Kings 10.
• Verse 8.
• Cant. 2. 4, 5.
• Jer. 2. 2, 3.
• 1 John 1. 3.
• 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• Est. 6. 9.
• Vid. Bez. in loc.
• Ephes. 4. 14.
• Nimiùm altercan∣do peritas amittitur. Sen.
• Psa. 119. 11.
• Ephes. 6. 14. Non benè cinctus, non bene di∣ctus.
• Prov. 23. 23.
• 1 Sam. 18. 1.
• Jude 3.
• Matth. 11. 19.
• 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• Zech. 3. 4.
• Knolls Hist.
• Acts 13. 39.
• Nostra de∣licta sua delicta fuit, ut suam justi∣tiam no∣stram ju∣stitiam fa∣ceret. Aug.
• Am. lib. 1. Med. 27. cap. 24. Thes. Job 13. 26.
• 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• Heb. 12. 14.
• 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• John 4. 34.
• Prov. 5. 14. vide Jun. in ••••c. Pares cum ••••••itus.
• Prov. 13. 20. 2 Pet. 1. 10. Phil. 2. 12.
• Phil. 1. 27.
• Col. 1. 10.
• 1 Pet. 1. 15.
• Perseve∣rantia est filia sum∣mi Regis.
• Incassùm bonum a∣gitur, si ante vitae terminum deseratur. Vid. Bez. in loc.
• Sancti ju∣venes, Sa∣tanici se∣nes.
• 1 Cor. 10. 12.
• Ps. 84. 11, 12.
• Col. 1. 11, 12.
• Aula coe∣lestis non suscipit ni∣si Sanctos, & pios.