V. The will of man is made perfectly and immutably free to do good alone in the state of glory only.1 I. CHAP. X. Of Effectual Calling. LL those whom God hath predestinated unto life, and those A only, he is pleased, in his appointed and accepted time, effec tually to call, by his word and Spirit, out of that state of sin and death in which they are by nature, to grace and salvation by Jesus Christ; enlightening their minds spiritually and savingly to understand the things of God; taking away their heart of stone, and giving V. Eph. iv. 13. Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ. Heb. xii. 23. To the general assembly and church of the first-born, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect. 1 John iii. 2. Beloved, now are we the sons of God; and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. Jude, ver. 24. Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy. I. a Rom. viii. 30. Moreover, whom he did predestinate, them he also called; and whom he called, them he also justified; and whom he justified, them he also glorified. Rom. xi. 7. What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded. Eph. i. 10. That in the dispensation of the fulness of times, he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth, even in him; Ver. 11. In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will. b2 Thess. ii. 13. But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren, beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit, and belief of the truth: Ver. 14. Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Cor. iii. 3. Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshly tables of the heart. Ver. 6. Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. Rom. viii. 2. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. Eph. ii. 1. And you hath he quickened, who were dead in tres passes and sins; Ver. 2. Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Ver. 3. Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. Ver. 4. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Ver. 5. Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ; (by grace ye are saved.) 2 Tim. i. 9. Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began; Ver. 10. But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. dActs xxvi. 18. To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to unto them an heart of flesh; renewing their wills, and by his almighty power determining them to that which is good; and effectually drawing them to Jesus Christ; yet so as they come most freely, being made willing by his grace. II. This effectual call is of God's free and special grace alone, not from any thing at all foreseen in man; who is altogether passive therein, until, being quickened and renewed by the Holy Spirit, he light, and from the power of Satan of God. Every man therefore that unto God, that they may receive for- hath heard, and hath learned of the giveness of sins, and inheritance among Father, cometh unto me. them which are sanctified by faith that h Cant. i. 4. Draw me, we will run is in me. 1 Cor. ii. 10. But God hath after thee. Ps. cx. 3. Thy people shall revealed them unto us by his Spirit: be willing in the day of thy power, in for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the beauties of holiness from the womb the deep things of God. Ver. 12. Now of the morning: thou hast the dew of we have received, not the spirit of the thy youth. John vi. 37. All that the world, but the spirit which is of God; Father giveth me shall come to me: that we might know the things that and him that cometh to me I will are freely given to us of God. Eph. i. in no wise cast out. Rom. vi. 16. 17. That the God of our Lord Jesus Know ye not, that to whom ye yield Christ, the Father of glory, may give yourselves servants to obey, his serunto you the spirit of wisdom and re- vants ye are to whom ye obey; velation in the knowledge of him: Ver. 18. The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints. whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? Ver. 17. But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin; but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Ver. 18. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. * Ezek. xxxvi. 26. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you; and I will take II. 12 Tim. i. 9. Who hath saved us, away the stony heart out of your and called us with an holy calling, not flesh, and I will give you an heart of according to our works, but according flesh. to his own purpose and grace, which f Ezek. xi. 19. And I will give them was given us in Christ Jesus before one heart, and I will put a new spirit the world began. Tit. iii. 4. But after within you; and I will take the stony that the kindness and love of God our heart out of their flesh, and will give Saviour toward man appeared, Ver. them an heart of flesh. Phil. ii. 13. For 5. Not by works of righteousness it is God which worketh in you, both to will and to do of his good pleasure, Deut. xxx. 6. And the Lord thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live. Ezek. xxxvi. 27. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them. which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost. Eph. ii. 4. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Ver. 5. Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ; (by grace ye are saved). Ver. 8. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the 8 Eph. i. 19. And what is the ex- gift of God: Ver. 9. Not of works, ceeding greatness of his power to us- lest any man should boast. Rom. ix. ward who believe, according to the 11. For the children being not yet working of his mighty power. John born, neither having done any good or vi. 44. No man can come to me, except evil, that the purpose of God accordthe Father, which hath sent me, draw ing to election might stand, not of him: and I will raise him up at the works, but of him that calleth. last day. Ver. 45. It is written in the * 1 Cor. ii. 14. But the natural man prophets, And they shall be all taught receiveth not the things of the Spirit is thereby enabled to answer this call, and to embrace the grace offered and conveyed in it.' III. Elect infants, dying in infancy, are regenerated and saved by Christ through the Spirit,m who worketh when, and where, and how he pleaseth. So also are all other elect persons, who are incapable of being outwardly called by the ministry of the word. IV. Others not elected, although they may be called by the ministry of the word, and may have some common operations of the Spirit, yet they never truly come unto Christ, and therefore cannot be saved:* of God: for they are foolishness unto him; neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. Rom. viii. 7. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. Eph. ii. 5. Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ; (by grace ye are saved.) 1John vi. 37. All that the Father giveth me shall come to me: and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. Ezek. xxxvi. 27. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them. John v. 25. Verily, verily, I say 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 shall live. III. Luke xviii. 15. And they brought unto him also infants, that he would touch them: but when his disciples saw it, they rebuked them. Ver. 16. But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. And Acts ii. 38. Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Ver. 39. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. And John iii. 3. Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the king dom of God. Ver. 5. Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water, and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. And 1 John v. 12. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. And Rom. viii. 9. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now, if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. [Compared together.j a John iii. 8. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whether it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. • 1 John v. 12. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. Acts iv. 12. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved. IV. P Matt. xxii. 14. For many are called, but few are chosen. 9 Matt. vii. 22. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? Matt. xiii. 20. But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it: Ver. 21. Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while; for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended. Heb. vi. 4. For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, Ver. 5. And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come. r John vi. 64. But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him. Ver. 65. And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father. Ver. 66. From that time many of his dis ciples went back, and walked no more much less can men not professing the Christian religion be saved in any other way whatsoever, be they ever so diligent to frame their lives according to the light of nature, and the law of that religion they do profess; and to assert and maintain that they may, is very pernicious, and to be detested.* CHAP. XI.-Of Justification. I. THOSE whom God effectually calleth he also freely justifieth ;* sins, and by accounting and accepting their persons as righteous: not for any thing wrought in them, or done by them, but for Christ's sake alone: not by imputing faith itself, the act of believing, or any other evangelical obedience, to them as their righteousness; but by imputing the obedience and satisfaction of Christ unto them, they receiving and with him. John viii. 24. I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins; for if ye believe not that f am he, ye shall die in your sins. Acts iv. 12. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved. John xiv. 6. Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. Eph. ii. 12. That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world. John iv. 22. Ye worship ye know not what; we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. John xvii. 3. And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. t2 John, ver. 9. Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God: he that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. Ver. 10. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: Ver. 11. For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds. 1 Cor. xvi. 22. If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha. Gal. i. 6. I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Ver. 7. Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. Ver. 8. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. I. a Rom. viii. 30. Moreover, whom he did predestinate, them he also called; and whom he called, them he also justified; and whom he justified, them he also glorified. Rom. iii. 24. Being justified freely by his grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. b Rom. iv. 5. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. Ver. 6. Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth_righteousness without works, Ver. 7. Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Ver. 8. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin. 2 Cor. v. 19. To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Ver. 21. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. Rom. iii. 22. Even the righteousness of God, which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe; for there is no difference. Ver. 24. Being justified freely by his grace, resting on him and his righteousness by faith: which faith they have not of themselves; it is the gift of God. II. Faith, thus receiving and resting on Christ and his righteousness, is the alone instrument of justification; yet is it not alone in the person justified, but is ever accompanied with all other saving graces, and is no dead faith, but worketh by love." III. Christ, by his obedience and death, did fully discharge the debt of all those that are thus justified, and did make a proper, real, and full satisfaction to his Father's justice in their behalf. Yet, in as much f man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: Ver. 39. And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. Eph. ii. 7. That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace, in his kindness_toward us through Christ Jesus. Ver. 8. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God. through the redemption that is in them which heard the word. Gal. ii. Christ Jesus; Ver. 25. Whom God 16. Knowing that a man is not justihath set forth to be a propitiation fied by the works of the law, but by through faith in his blood, to declare the faith of Jesus Christ, even we his righteousness for the remission have believed in Jesus Christ, that of sins that are past, through the for- we might be justified by the faith of bearance of God; Ver. 27. Where is Christ, and not by the works of the boasting then? It is excluded. By law: for by the works of the law what law? of works? Nay; but by shall no flesh be justified. Phil. iii. the law of faith. Ver. 28. There- 9. And be found in him, not having fore we conclude, that a man is justi- mine own righteousness, which is of fied by faith without the deeds of the the law, but that which is through law. Tit. iii. 5. Not by works of the faith of Christ, the righteousness righteousness which we have done, which is of God by faith. Acts xiii. but according to his mercy he saved 38. Be it known unto you, therefore, us, by the washing of regeneration, men and brethren, that through this and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Ver. 7. That, being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. Eph. i. 7. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace. Jer. xxiii. 6. In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely; and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. 1 Cor. i. 30. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: Ver. 31. That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. Rom. v. 17. For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace, and of the gift of righteousness, shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ: Ver. 18. Therefore, as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upor all men unto justification of life. Ver. 19. For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners; so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. Acts x. 44. While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all II. d John i. 12. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name. Rom. iii. 28. Therefore we conclude, that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. Rom. v. i. Therefore, bcing justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. e James ii. 17. Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Ver. 22. Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? Ver. 26. For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. Gal. v. 6. For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love. III. Rom. v. 8. But God commendeth |