of Christ constrains me;" I can do nothing against Christ, but for Christ; they are effectually called.

If you are begotten by the word of promise, then you are called effectually. "In Isaac shall thy seed be called," Rom. ix. 7. How was Isaac begotten? Not in a way of nature, but "by a word of promise," verse 8.

If you be separated from the world indeed, from the things and persons of the world. 1 Pet. ii. 9, "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a peculiar people, an holy nation, that ye should shew forth the praises of him that hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light."

If there be in you an aptness, a readiness, and a willingness to be ruled by the word in all things, then are you effectually called. So when Cornelius was called, and Peter came to preach to him, Acts x. 29, "We are all present (says he to Peter) to hear all things that are commanded thee of God." And so when Paul was called, "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" says he, Acts ix. 6.

If you can say in truth, that all things work together for your good, then are you indeed "called according to his purpose," Rom. viii. 28. Not to them that are called outwardly, but to them that are called according to his purpose, effectually and truly, do all things work together for good. Can you say, I was under such and such an affliction or temptation, and it wrought together for my good; and under such a desertion, and it wrought for my spiritual good? Then you are called truly according to his purpose.

If you hold forth the praises of him that hath called you, then are you called truly and effectually; for why are you called, but "that you should shew forth the praises and virtues of him that hath called you?" 1 Peter ii. 9.

If any shall complain, I fear I am not effectually called, because I was first wrought upon by afflictions; those that are truly called, I find are called by the servants, by the preachers of the gospel;

To this I answer: It is true that God does ordinarily call men effectually by his ministers, who are the servants he sends forth; but remember also it is said. "He sent forth other servants to tell them which were bidden, all things are ready, come to the marriage," Matt. xxii. 4. Christ has other servants than these his ministers; though ordinarily

those he truly and effectually calls, it is by these. But he sends other servants too; he can give commission to an affliction to bring home souls to himself. What think you of the prodigal? Luke xv. Was not he brought home to his father by an affliction? Was not Naaman brought home to God by his leprosy? You will say perhaps, These were providentially, occasionally. But what say you then to Zaccheus ? Was it not a kind of accidental, providential call that he had? And that Christ should call Matthew as he passed by, and saw him sit at the receipt of custom? Waldus, the father of the Waldenses, he and a company of his friends had supped together, and been merry; and as they were returning home, one of them fell down dead in the street. This was an occasional means of his conversion, who was so famous a man, and an instrument of converting so many thousands to the true religion. But shall the prodigal say, I fear my conversion is not right, because affliction led me first home to my father? Shall Zaccheus say, It was but an accidental thing that I ran up into the sycamore tree, being low of stature, and so could not else have seen Jesus for the press, whom I desired only out of curiosity to see, and therefore I fear my call was not right? God knows how to make use of contingencies, occasional providences, and of your afflictions, to bring you home to himself. And if you be brought home to God by the hand and ministry of affliction, that you can say as one did, If my parents had not been undone, I had been undone for ever; be content then with affliction, and love it the better. Usually persons have the greatest love for that minister that was the first instrument of their conversion.

Again, If any shall say, I fear I am not truly nor effectually called, because I do not know the time when I was so called; there being some that can tell you the very time, and the sermon, and the particular word in the sermon, that was effectual to their conversion; but I can give no account of any of these,

I answer, The sun when it comes into a room where the windows have no shutters, comes in by degrees; but it comes into a room where the windows have shutters all at once. Where there are the shutters of profaneness, drunkenness, uncleanness, and the like, when such men are

wrought upon, the sun comes in all at once. Those that are born of godly parents, and have been educated and trained up in a godly, religious way, they are converted; but many times they cannot tell you neither the particular minister, nor the word, nor the time when converting grace came in upon their souls; it came in by degrees; shall such say therefore they are not truly converted? Suppose a man had had the stone, but had got a powder, in the use of which the stone does wear out by degrees, shall that man say, I never had the stone, because many that are cured of the stone, it has been by cutting, and with a great deal of pain which I escaped, and therefore I never had the stone? So shall I, because I have not had those terrors and troubles of conscience that others have felt, argue therefore I am not converted? No, but go and bless God that you are converted; that the stone is wrought out of your heart in a more kindly and gentle way than in others. I say, What shall I do that I may walk worthy of God, who hath effectnally called me, and in so sweet and gentle a way?

I am

Fifthly, What shall I do, that I may walk worthy of God that hath called me, since certainly called I am. either called outwardly only, or effectually. If a man invites me to dinner, and I do not go, I am yet to carry it answerably to his love, in inviting me: much more, when the Lord has called. me, and that effectually, it is my duty to walk worthy of God who hath thus called me. I am come into a great and open field, through all these precedent gates, I may proceed to further particulars hereafter, at present only remember, that a man is said to walk worthy of God, when he walks meetly, suitably, and answerably to that God hath called him. There are four expressions bishop Davenant hath in his notes upon the epistle to the Colossians, that run into this same matter. Sometimes a man is said to walk worthy of God; sometimes of the Lord Christ; sometimes of the gospel; sometimes of the high calling whereunto he is called. But that I may speak clearly to the point, I shall begin with the first of these, and shew you how a man shall "walk worthy of God that hath called him to his kingdom and glory," that is, suitably and answerably.

Observe the attributes and excellencies of God, and let them shine forth in you, that shine forth in him. God is a

"It

great God; and if you will walk worthy of this great God, you must do some great thing for him. Solomon when he would build a temple for God, said, " It must be exceeding magnificent, for it was for the great God." It is no great thing to believe, love, and pray, and give alms to the poor; but it is a great thing to believe in the face of impossibilities. To love over the head of injuries; to pray when one's heart is dead and down; to give alms to the poor out of but a mite or two, as the widow did; and it is said, "She gave more than all the rest." It is no great matter, says one, for a man to do great things; but to do great things, and to think himself nothing; this is a great matter. If you will walk worthy of God, do some great thing for God.

As God is a great God; so he is a sovereign Lord, absolutely free, and is determined by nothing from without, but himself, but only of his own counsels; therefore if you will walk worthy of God, what is the thing wherein his good pleasure lies? Labour to know that: and not only to do the thing he commands; but serve the good pleasure of God. Be ye more gracious, because God is so freely gracious.

God is infinitely holy, therefore it is not said, almighty, almighty, almighty, not great, great, great, but, holy, holy, holy; because God looks upon holiness as his greatest excellency so must you, if you will walk worthy of God," and be holy as he is holy, in all manner of conversation," 1 Pet. i. 15, 16.

He is a God all-sufficient, "I am God all-sufficient, walk before me, and be upright," Gen. xvii. You give him the honour of his all-sufficiency, in being upright. When you step out from God, to fetch relief some where else, you dishonour God: "Is it because there is no God in Israel, that you go out to the god of Ekron ?"

He is a faithful God. His faithfulness is twice repeated. "Faithful is he that hath called you," 1 Thess. v. 24, "God is faithful by whom you were called," 1 Cor. i. 9. Then would you walk worthy of God who hath called you; whenever God makes a promise, promise yourself that thing, because God hath promised it; not because the creature promiseth it, being big and full of second causes; but when God promiseth, assure yourself of it, because God hath promised. it. This is to walk worthy of God, as he is faithful.

He is our chief good, and our utmost end, and therefore in all your affairs you are to begin with him, and to rest in him, and to be boundless and insatiable in your desires after him. A worldly man makes the world his end, and therefore is insatiable; thinks he never has enough of it, because he makes it his utmost end.

If you would walk worthy of God, &c. great design of God is in the world, and

Observe what the labour all you can

to advance the same: the great design of God in the world, is to glorify himself in his Son. Now when a man does pray to God, and Christ shall do the thing for him, that he prays for; then the Father is glorified in the Son. "Whatever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son," John xiv. 13. And when a man does hear Christ, and believe in Christ, and obey Christ, as sent of the Father; then he glorifies God the Father in the Son.

In case you have any work to do, first go to God before you try other means; it is no great honour to God to come to him in the last place, when you have no whither else to go, and to trnst God when you can trust none else. But to believe in the face of impossibility, and to love over the head of injury, and to pray when all is dead and down; this is worthy of God.

Observe what that is that hath been your god, and give that to God. Bishop Babington, who was a good man in his time observes, that the children of Israel did sacrifice to God that which was the gods of other nations; and herein they honoured God. If you can give that to God which hath been your god; consider God the Father gave that to you that was dearest to him. If you give him that which is dearest to you, which you have made your god; this is a thing worthy of God "who hath called you to his kingdom and glory.'

Take heed of sinning in secret, because God sees you; and be sure you be much in private duty, for God beholds you. The more I walk in the eye of an all-seeing God, the more I walk worthy of God.

In case you do or have received any mercy from God, be not only thankful upon account of a benefit, but praise God. There is a great deal of difference between thankfulness and praise. I am thankful to God for a benefit, but I praise him for that excellency of God which shines forth in that benefit.