Of Effectual Calling
A. That believers need not be afraid to go down to the grave; Rom.
8:38, 39. For I am persuaded, that neither death nor life,—nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. And this union holds after death;
Mat. 22:31, 32. But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living.
Q. 10. What is the fourth inference?
A. That in wronging and persecuting the saints, men wrong and persecute Christ himself; Acts 9:4. And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
Q. 11. What is the fifth inference?
A. That in relieving and refreshing the saints, we relieve and refresh Christ himself; Matth. 25:35, 36. For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat; and I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink; I. was a stranger, and ye took me in; naked, and ye clothed me; I was sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Ver. 40. Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
Q. 12. What is the last inference?
A. That there is a sympathy in Christ, under all the pressures and grievances of his people; Heb. 4:15. We have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
Of Effectual Calling Quest. 31. WHAT is effectual calling?
A. Effectual calling is the work of God's Spirit, whereby convincing us of our sin and misery, enlightening our minds in the knowledge of Christ, and renewing our wills, he doth persuade and enable us to embrace Jesus Christ, freely offered to us in the gospel.
Q. 1. What makes the difference between effectual and ineffectual calling?
A. Ineffectual calling is, when men have nothing but the external sound of the gospel; Matth. 20:16. For many be called, but few chosen. Effectual is, when the Spirit works in conjunction with the word; John 6:45. It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God; every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.
Q. 2. What is the first act of the Spirit in effectual calling?
A. Conviction of sin; John 16:8. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin.
Q. 3. Do the called of God hear any voice from heaven?
A. Ordinarily it is a call without sound, yet as efficacious as an audible voice from heaven.
Q. 4. What is the second act of the Spirit in our effectual calling?
A. The illumination of the mind in the knowledge of Christ; Acts 26:18. To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God.
Q. 5. In what things doth it enlighten them?
A. In this; That Christ is their only remedy; Acts 4:12. Neither is there salvation in any other; for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. And their all-
sufficient remedy; Heb. 7:25. Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him.
Q. 6. What is the third act?
A. His renewing of the sinner's will, and making it flexible; Psal.
110:3. Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power. Ezek.
36:26. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you, and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
Q. 7. Can no man come to Christ till thus enabled?
A. No; it is not in the power of man's nature or will, till thus renewed and enabled; Eph. 1:19, 20. And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward, who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him on his own right-hand in the heavenly places.
John 6:44. No man can come to me except the Father, which hath sent me, draw him.
Q. 8. What sort of men are most ordinarily called?
A. The poor and mean ones in the world; 1 Cor. 1:26. For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called; but God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty.
Q. 9. What is the first instruction from it?
A. Souls effectually called are never lost; Rom. 11:29. For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.
Q. 10. What is the second instruction?