in the heavens, 2 Col. v. 1. 2 Tim. iv. 8. "there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me at that day."

CHAP. XVII.-OF MAN'S RENOVATION, INCLUDING HIS

CALLING.

HAVING Concluded the subject of man's REDEMPTION, his RENOVATION is next to be considered.

THE RENOVATION OF MAN is that change whereby HE WHO

WAS BEFORE UNDER THE CURSE, AND OBNOXIOUS TO THE

DIVINE WRATH, IS BROUGHT INTO A STATE OF GRACE. Eph. ii. 3, 5, &c. "we were by nature the children of wrath... by grace ye are saved." i. 3, 5. "who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ." Col. iii. 10. "and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him." Eph. iv. 23, 24. "that ye be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness." 2 Cor. iv. 16. "the inward man is renewed day by day." Tit. iii. 5. "by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost." Rom. xii. 2. "by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." Heb. vi. 4, 6. "for it is impossible for those who were once enlightened.. if they shall fall away, to renew them again to repentance." In renovation two things are to be considered; the mode by which man is renewed, and the manifestation of that mode. The mode by which man is renewed, is either NATURAL or

SUPERNATURAL.

By the natural mode, I mean that which influences the natural affections alone. This includes the calling of the natural man, and the consequent change in his character.

THE CALLING OF MAN is that natural mode of renovation whereby GOD The father, acCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE IN CHRIST, INVITES FALLEN MAN TO A KNOWLEDGE OF THE WAY IN WHICH HE IS TO BE PROPITIATED AND WORSHIPPED; INSOMUCH THAT BELIEVERS, THROUGH HIS GRATUITOUS

KINDNESS, ARE CALLED TO SALVATION, AND SUCH AS REFUSE TO BELIEVE ARE LEFT WITHOUT EXCUSE.

WHEREBY GOD THE FATHER. Acts ii. 39. "to as many as the Lord our God shall call." 1 Cor. i. 9. "by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son." 2 Cor. v. 20. as though God did beseech you by us." John vi. 37. "all that the Father giveth me."

V. 44. " except the Father

which hath sent me draw him." 2 Thess. i. 13. 14. “ the Spirit.... whereunto he called you." 1 Pet. v. 10. "the God of all grace, who hath called us." 2 Pet. i. 3. "through the knowledge of him that hath called us."

ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE. Rom. viii. 28-30. "the called according to his purpose." 2 Tim. i. 9. "who hath called us with a holy calling.... according to his own purpose and grace."

IN CHRIST. Gen. iii. 16. "it shall bruise thy head." xxii. 18. "in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed." 1 Cor. i. 9. "unto the fellowship of his Son." Gal. i. 6. "into the grace of Christ." 1 Pet. v. 10. "who hath called us by Christ Jesus."

To A KNOWLEDGE OF THE WAY IN WHICH HE IS TO BE PROPITIATED AND WORSHIPPED. Gen. xvii. 1. "walk before me and be thou perfect."

THROUGH HIS GRATUITOUS KINDNESS. Isai. lv. 1., &c. come buy wine and milk without money and without price.' lxv. 1. “I am sought of them that asked not for me; I am found of them that sought me not; I said, Behold me, behold me, unto a nation that was not called by my name."

BELIEVERS ARE CALLED TO SALVATION. 1 Tim. vi. 12. "lay hold on eternal life." 1 Thess. ii. 12. "who hath called you to his kingdom and glory." See also 2 Thess. ii. 14. 1 Pet. ii. 9. "out of darkness into his marvellous light." v. 10. "who hath called us unto his eternal glory."

SUCH AS REFUSE TO BELIEVE ARE LEFT WITHOUT EXCUSE. Prov. i. 24. "because I have called, and ye refused.... I also will laugh at your calamity." John xv. 22. "if I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin; but now they have no cloke for their sin." Rom i. 18-20. “who hold the truth in unrighteousness: because that which may be known of God is manifest in them.... for the invisible

things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen ... so that they are without excuse." Those therefore who have not been called, are not without excuse. "how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard?"

x. 14.

This calling is either general or special. The general calling is that whereby God invites the whole of mankind, in various ways, but all of them sufficient for the purpose, to the knowledge of the true Deity. John i. 9. "that was the true light which lighteth every man that cometh into the world." Acts xiv. 17. "he left not himself without witness." Rom. i. 19. "because that which may be known of God is manifest in them." ii. 15. "which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the meanwhile accusing or else excusing one another."

It may be objected, that all have not known Christ. I answer, that this proves nothing against the doctrine, that all are called in Christ alone; inasmuch as, had he not been given to the world, God would have called no one: and as the ransom he has paid is in itself sufficient for the redemption of all mankind, all are called to partake of its benefits, though all may not be aware of the source from which the benefits flow. For if Job believed that his sacrifice could avail for his sons, who were not present at its offering, and were perhaps thinking of nothing less, i. 5. if the returned Jews believed that their sacrifices could be available for the ten tribes, who were then far distant, and ignorant of what was passing at Jerusalem; how much more ought we to believe that the perfect sacrifice of Christ may be abundantly sufficient even for those who have never heard of the name of Christ, and who believe only in God? This will be treated more at large under the head of faith.

God's special calling is that whereby he, at the time which he thinks proper, invites particular individuals, elect as well as reprobate, more frequently, and with a more marked call than others.

Particular individuals in preference to others. Thus he called Abraham from his father's house, who probably expected no such call, Gen. xii. 1. &c. and who was even an idolater at the time. Josh. xxiv. 2. 3. "they served other gods, and I

6

VOL. IV.

6 Him on this side Euphrates yet residing,

Bred up in idol-worship. Paradise Lost, XII. 114.

I

took your father Abraham from the other side of the flood." So also he called the people of Israel, for his name's sake and for the sake of the promises made to their fathers. Psal. cxlvii. 19. 20. "he sheweth his word unto Jacob.... he hath not dealt so with any nation, and as for his judgments, they have not known them." Another reason is given Matt. ix. 13. "I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners." xv. 26. "it is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs." Acts xvi. 6, 7." they were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia.... they assayed to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit suffered them not." v. 9. "a vision appeared to Paul in the night."

Elect. Rom. viii. 28-30. "to them that love God, to them who are the called, according to his purpose." 1 Cor. i. 26. *"ye see your calling, brethren .... God hath chosen the foolish things of the world." 2 Tim. i. 9. " with an holy calling, according to his own purpose and grace." Rev. xix. 9. blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb."

As well as reprobate. Isai. xxviii. 13. "the word of Jehovah was unto them precept upon precept." Ezek. ii. 4, 5. “they are impudent children and stiff-hearted; I do send thee unto them." See also v. 7. iii. 7, 11, 27. Matt. x. 18. "for a testimony against them and the Gentiles." xi. 21. “woe unto thee, Chorazin!" xxii. 8, 9. "they which were bidden were not worthy.... as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage." v. 10. "both bad and good." xxiii. 37. "how often would I have gathered your children together.... and ye would not." Luke vii. 30. "the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves." Acts vii. 51. "ye do always resist the Holy Ghost." xiii. 46. "seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life."

At the time which he thinks proper. Matt. xx. 1. 3, &c. "he went out about the third hour." Acts xiv. 16. "who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways. xvii. 27, 30. "the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent." Eph. iii. Yet he at length, time to himself best known, Rememb'ring Abraham, by some wond'rous call

May bring them back. Paradise Regained, III. 433.

Rom. xvi.

5. "which in other ages was not made known" 25. "which was kept secret since the world began." On the promulgation of the gospel, a new command was given: Matt. xxviii. 19. "go ye therefore and teach all nations." Mark xvi. 15. "preach the gospel to every creature." Rom. x. 18. "have they not heard? yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world." Col. i. 26. "the mystery which hath been hid for ages.... but now is made manifest."

The change which takes place in man by reason of his calling, is that whereby the natural mind and will of man being partially renewed by a divine impulse, are led to seek the knowledge of God, and for the time, at least, undergo an alteration for the better.

Inasmuch as this change is from God, those in whom it takes place are said to be enlightened, and to be endued with power to will what is good. This is ascribed sometimes to the Father: Eph. i. 17, 18. "that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ.... may give unto you the spirit of knowledge. . . . the eyes of your understanding being enlightened." 2 Cor. iv. 6. "God hath shined in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge." James i. 17. "every good gift cometh down from the Father of lights." Luke xi. 13. "how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit." Sometimes to the Son: John i. 9. "that was the true light which lighteth every man that cometh into the world." Sometimes to the Holy Spirit: Heb. vi. 4, &c. "those who were once enlightened.... and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost."

As this change is of the nature of an effect produced on man, and an answer, as it were, to the call of God, it is sometimes spoken of under the metaphor of hearing or hearkening, (this faculty itself, however, being usually described as a gift from God) sometimes under that of tasting. Hearing: Matt. xi. 15. "he that hath ears to hear, let him hear." Thus Herod is said to have heard John the Baptist gladly. Mark vi. 20. So also Acts xxvi. 28. Agrippa was willing to hear Paul. xvi. 14. "whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things spoken of Paul." Rom. vi. 17. "God be thanked that.... . ye have obeyed from the heart,' &c. (ex corde auscultástis). Heb. iii. 7. "to-day if ye will