Abbildungen der Seite
PDF
EPUB
[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

' of Chrift Jefus.' 1 John iii. 24. He that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him; and hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.' Gal. ii. 20. I am crucified with Chrift: Nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Chrift liveth in me:" and the life which I now live in the flefh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.' We neceffarily become one with Chrift, by means of that Communication of the Spirit from him, because so the Man Chrift and we do both live fpiritually by the self-fame Spirit indwelling in both, Rom. viii. 2. forecited. Col. iii. 3. 4. Ye are dead, and your life is hid with Chrift in God.' When Chrift who is our life,' &c. And the Distance between Chrift the Head in Heaven, and us on Earth, hinders not the Indwelling of the fame Spirit in both, and our Union thereby; in regard the Spirit is an infinite Spirit.

The Agency of the Spirit in us, when quickened by that Communication, is his working Faith in us, and thereby uniting us to Chrift: Col. ii. 12. Buried with him in baptifm, wherein alfo you are rifen with him through the faith of the operation of God.' Compared with 2 Cor. iv. 13. We having the fame fpirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I fpoken: we alfo believe, and therefore fpeak.' Eph. iii. 17. That Chrift may dwell in your hearts by faith. It is not the Habit of Faith, but actual Believing, by which the Spirit unites us to Chrift: Gen. xv. 6. And Abram believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteoufnefs.' John i. 'As many as received him, to them gave he

12.

[ocr errors]

power

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

3.

power to become the fons of God, even to them that believe on his name.' The Spirit worketh in us that actual Believing, producing it in us immediately out of the fpiritual Life given us by that Communication of himself to us: Phil. ii. 1 It is God which worketh in you, both to will ' and to do of his good pleasure.' John v. 25. Verily verily I fay unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the ' voice of the Son of God: and they that hear, 'fhall live.' Compared with Chap. i. 12. forecited. verf. 13. Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.' And by that actual Believing also we are united to Chrift, inasmuch as thereby we apprehend Chrift, and knit with him, Phil. iii. 12. John i. 12. Eph. iii. 17. all forecited. But as for elect Infants, Idiots, and others, through Want of the Exercise of their Reason, incapable of actual Believing, what comes of them in that Cafe, is, that they are united to Chrift by the Communication of the Spirit to them, and Chrift's Purchase is effectually applied to them thereupon: Luke i. 15. John fhall be filled with the Holy 'Ghoft, even from his mother's womb.' Compared with 1 Cor. xii. 13. By one Spirit are we all baptized into one Body, whether we be Jews · or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been made all to drink into one Spirit.'

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

The Bonds, then, of the fpiritual Union betwixt Christ and actual Believers, are, the Spirit on Chrift's Part, and Faith on their Part: 1 John iii. 24. He that keepeth his commandments, dwelleth in him, and he in him: and hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he

' hath

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

hath given us.' Eph. iii: 17. That Chrift may dwell in your hearts by faith. And that Work of God about us, in which the Spirit works Faith in us, and unites us to Chrift, is our effectual Calling.

Queft. 31. What is effectual Calling? Anf. Effectual Calling is the Work of God's Spirit, whereby, convincing us of our Sin and Mifery, enlightening our Minds in the Knowledge of Christ, and renewing our Wills, he doth perfuade and enable us to embrace Jefus Chrift, freely offered to us in the Gofpel.

EXPLICATIO N.

An effectual Calling in the general is, when the Party called comes upon the Call. The Call where by Sinners are invited to partake of the Redemp-. tion purchased by Chrift, is the Call of the Gospel : 2 Theff. ii. 14. Whereunto he called you by our gofpel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jefus Chrift. Even the Gofpel-call itself is not given to all and every one in the world: Rom. x. 14. 15. How then fhall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how fhall they be lieve in him of whom they have not heard? and how fhall they hear without a preacher? and how fhall they preach except they be fent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them which preach the gofpel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! But the Gospel

[ocr errors]

call

call is given to all to whom the Word of God comes, whether written or preached: John v. 39. Search the fcriptures, for in them ye think ye ' have eternal life, and they are they which testify of me.' Rom. x. 17. Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.'

[ocr errors]

Sinners are, by the Gofpel-call, called to come out from the World lying in Wickedness: 1 John v. 19. And we know that the whole world lieth in

wickedness.' Compared with 2 Cor. vi. 17. • Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye feparate, faith the Lord, and touch not the ' unclean thing; and I will receive you.' And finners are called to come to Jefus Chrift in Union and Communion with him : Matth. xi. 28. Come unto 'me, all ye that labour, and are heavy laden, and I will give you reft. Chap. xxii. 4. Again he fent forth other fervants, faying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage.' By that Coming to Jefus Chrift, is meant, embracing him freely offered to us in the Gofpel. Chrift offered in the Gospel is embraced, by believing on him: John i. 12. As many as received him, to them gave he power to become the fons ' of God, even to them that believe on his name.” There is need of calling us to come to Chrift, in Union and Communion with him, because, by Nature, we are far from God, and fast asleep in Sin: Eph. ii. 13. But now in Chrift Jefus, ye who fometimes were far off, are made nigh by the blood of Chrift.' Compared with Jam. iv. 8. Draw. nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.' Eph. v. 14. Awake thou that flcepeft,

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

and

' and arise from the dead, and Chrift shall give thee light.'

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

The Gofpel-call, to whatever Sinner of Mankind it comes, is accompanied with a fufficient Warrant for his coming to Christ, in Union and Communion with him. That Warrant is the free Offer of Chrift to us in the Gospel: Prov. viii. 4. Unto you, O men, I call, and my voice is to the fons of man.' Mark xvi. 15. 16. And Jefus 'faid unto the difciples, Go ye into all the world, ⚫ and preach the gofpel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized, fhall be faved; but ' he that believeth not, shall be damned.? Christ is offered in the Gospel freely, to us Mankind-finners, in that any of us may, though none but truly fenfible Sinners will come to him, and unite with him: John iii. 16. God fo loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whofoever believeth in him, fhould not perish, but have everlasting life.' Rev. xx. 17. And the Spirit and the bride fay, Come. And let him that heareth, fay, Come. And let him that is athirst, come: And whofoever will, let him take the water of life freely.' Chap. iii. 18. I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayft be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayft be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakednefs do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eye-falve, that thou mayft fee.' The calling of Sinners by the Gofpel, is ineffectual on many. It is ineffectual on them, in that they come not to Chrift upon the Call: Prov. i. 24. I have called, and ye refufed; I have stretch

[ocr errors]

ed out my hand, and no man regarded. But it is effectual on the Elect: Rom, viii. 30. Whom

he

« ZurückWeiter »