Chapter 41. Of the 1st Assault: on Calling.
WILLIAM PERKINS
Chapter 41. Of the 1st Assault: on Calling.
Assaults are threefold.
The first is about the Christian man's effectual calling. The temptation is this: the devil's enterprise is to blindfold man's mind, and to harden his heart, lest the word of God work in him unto salvation. Mat 13.4-7,
And as he sowed, some [seeds] fell by the wayside, and the fowls came and devoured them. And some fell on stony ground, where they did not have much earth, and shortly they sprang up, because they had no depth of earth. And when the sun rose up, they were parched, and for lack of rooting, withered away. And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprung up and choked them. Verse 19, Whenever a man hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart.
And this is he who has received the seed by the wayside.
Resistance [to temptation] in those who are called, is worked by the Spirit of God, who causes men to lend their ears to hear, and ingrafts the word in their hearts, that the immortal seed of regeneration may spring up in them. Psa 40.6; Joh 6.44; Act 16.14. Jas 1.21,
Therefore, lay aside all filthiness and overflowing maliciousness, and receive with meekness the word that is grafted in you, which is able to save your souls.
1Pet 1.22, Seeing your souls are purified in obeying the truth through the spirit, to love brotherly without feigning, love one another with a pure heart, fervently.
1Joh 3.9, Whoever is born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; nor can he sin, because he is born of God.
Resistance [to sin] in those who are called is when, with a sincere heart, they join the word which they have heard, with faith. Luk 8.15, But that which fell in
A GOLDEN CHAIN
good ground, are those who, with an honest and good heart, hear the word and keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience. Heb 4.2.
Here are certain preservatives to be noted.
I. Premeditation about the power and use of the word. Ecc 5.1-2, Take heed to your feet when you enter into the house of the Lord, and be near to hear, more than to give the sacrifice of fools; for they do not know that they do evil. Do not be rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be hasty to utter a thing before God. For God is in the heavens, and you are on the earth.
Therefore, let your words be few.
II. Diligent attention of the mind. Act 16.14.
III. A hungering desire of the heart. Joh 7.37, Now on the last and great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, If any man thirsts, let him come to me and drink.
IV. Integrity of life. Psa 26.6.
V. Casting away evil affections. Jas 1.22, And be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own souls.
VI. The inward consent and agreement of the heart with the word preached. Act 2.37.
VII. Hiding the word in the heart, lest we sin. Psa 119.11, I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against You.
VIII. Trembling at the presence of God in the assembly of the Church. Isa 66.2, For all these things
My hand has made, and all those things have been, says the Lord. And to him I will look, even to the one who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembles at my words.
Act 10.33, Then I sent for you immediately, and you have done well to come. Now, therefore, we are all present here before God, to hear all things that are commanded you by God.
The fall is either a coldness in receiving the word, and a neglect of it, or else falling into errors.
The remedy for this is subjection, which must be made to the judgment and censure of the brethren and
WILLIAM PERKINS
ministers. Rev 3.15, I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I would you were cold or hot. Gal
6.2. 1Tim 1.20, …of whom are Hymeneus and Alexander, whom I have delivered to Satan, that they might learn not to blaspheme.