(i.) There is an outward call, which is nothing else but God's blessed tender of
is placed between predestination and glorification; and if we have this middle link fast, we are sure of the two other ends of the chain. For the clearer illustration of this there are six things observable.
1. A distinction about calling. There is a two-fold call.
(i.) There is an outward call, which is nothing else but God's blessed tender of grace in the gospel, His parleying with sinners, when He invites them to come in and accept of mercy. Of this our Saviour speaks: "Many are called, but few chosen" (Matt. 20:16). This external call is insufficient to salvation, yet sufficient to leave men without excuse.
(ii.) There is an inward call, when God wonderfully overpowers the heart, and draws the will to embrace Christ. This is, as Augustine speaks, an effectual call. God, by the outward call, blows a trumpet in the ear; by the inward call, He opens the heart, as He did the heart of Lydia (Acts 16:14). The outward call may bring men to a profession of Christ, the inward call brings them to a possession of Christ. The outward call curbs a sinner, the inward call changes him.
2. Our deplorable condition before we are called.
(i.) We are in a state of vassalage. Before God calls a man, he is at the devil's call. If he say, Go, he goes: the deluded sinner is like the slave who digs in the mine, hews in the quarry, or tugs at the oar. He is at the command of Satan, as the ass is at the command of the driver.
(ii.) We are in a state of darkness. "Once you were darkness" (Ephes. 5:8). Darkness is very disconsolate. A man in the dark is full of fear, he trembles every step he takes. Darkness is dangerous. He who is in the dark may quickly go out of the right way, and fall into rivers or whirlpools; so in the darkness of ignorance, we may quickly fall into the whirlpool of hell.
(iii.) We are in a state of impotency. "When we were without strength" (Rom. 5:6). No strength to resist a temptation, or grapple with a corruption; sin cut the hair where our strength lay (Judg. 16:20). Nay, there is not only impotency, but obstinacy, "You always resist the Holy Ghost" (Acts 7:51). Besides indisposition to good, there is opposition.
(iv.) We are in a state of pollution. "I saw you polluted in your blood" (Ezek.