What Is Effectual Calling?
Answ. Effectual calling is the work of God’s
Spirit, whereby convincing us of our sin and
misery, enlightening our minds in the know.
ledge of Christ, and renewing our wills, he
doth persuade and enable us to embrace Jesus
Christ, freely offered to us in the gospel.
Q. In what doth the Spirit apply the redemption purehased»by Christ? A. In our effectual calling, justification, adoption, sanctification, and glorification.
Q. Wherein is the union between Christ ana his people constituted? A. In their effectual calling.
Q. Whether is effectual calling a work or an act?
A. It is a work* Eph. i. 18, 19.
Qj What is the difference between a work and an act?
A. An act is done in a moment; but a work often re* quires more time, and consists of sundry acts.
Q. Whose work is effectual calling?
A. It is the work of God’s Spirit, John xvi. 8, — 14.
Q. Is it not also a work of the Father and Son?
A. Yes j but they work it by the Spirit, John xvi.
Q. How doth the Spirit constitute the union between Christ and us in our effectual calling? A. By per
suading and enabling us to embrace Christ, Psalm ex, 3; ‘Q» What do you mean by our embracing of Christ I
A. Receiving him by faith, and with great delight,. Q. *nto what do we by faith receive Christ?
A. Into our heart, Prov. xxiii. 26. Eph. iii. 17.
£X Wherein do we by faith receive Christ?
A. In the promise of the gospel, Rom. x. S, 9.
Q. Whether is it in the gospel strictly or largely taken t
A. In the gospel strictly taken, Isa. lv. 1, — >7.
£). What warrant have we to embrace Christ in the gospel? A. The Father’s gift of Christ, and Christ’s
offer of himself to us, Isa. xlii. and lv.
Q. What do you understand by the Father’s gift of Christ?
A. His setting forth Christ as the great mean of salvation, which every one of mankind hath a right and welcome to receive, John iii. 16. Isa. xlii. 6, 7, and xlix. 6.
Q. Can any man receive Christ but upon the footing of this gift? A. No 5 John iii. 16, 27.
Q. Doth God command every man that hears the gospel to take his gift Christ out of his hand? A. Yes 5 under pain of his most dreadful wrath, 1 Xohn iii. 23*
Q. What mean you by Christ’s offer of himself?
A. His holding forth himself as able and willing to save, and inviting sinners to receive salvation from him.
Q^To whom doth Christ offer himself? A. To every ne that hears the gospel, without exception, Prov. viii. 4.
Qj, In what manner is Christ offered in the gospel?
A. Fully, freely, earnestly, and indefinitely, Isa.’lv.
Q. How is he offered fully f
A. He is offered in his whole person, offices, relations-, righteousness, and blessings, 1 Cor. i. 30.
O. How is he offered freely f A. No condition is required from sinful men to give them a right to the offer.
£). How is Chi ist offered earnestly? A. All the divine persons do often, in the most engaging terms, and with the most powerful motives, beset ch, intreat and command us to embrace Christ, Isa. lv. 1, — 13. Rev. xxii.
Q. How is Christ offered indefinitely?
A. The gospel-offer of him suits every hearer’s case as exactly as if he was named in it, Rev. iii. 17, 18.
Q. What do you understand by embracing of Christ as offered in the gospel? A. A particular persuasion that
Christ in the promise is mine; and made of God to me wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption; and trusting on his word, that he will act up to all his saving characters to me in order to promote my everlasting Salvation.
Q. Are all the effectually called equally sensible of their embracing Christ? A. No sometimes Christ is
embraced in the way of bold claiming of the promises •, and sometimes in the way of desire, attended with much, fear and doubting, Psalm xlii. 1, 2, 5, 8.
Q. How is Christ embraced by a bold claiming such a promise as that, Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as snow, &.c. £
A. By replying with our heart, “Lord, my sins are in- “deed as scarlet *, but since thou hast thus promised, on et the footing of thy word, I am verily persuaded, that “thou shalt make them white as snow, by purging them •4 away.”
Q. How is Christ embraced in his promise, in the way of desire, attended with much fear and doubting?
A* By replying with our heart,” Lord, I prize thfc
%iest. 31 - Of Effectual Calling. 143
jH promise as infinitely suited to my monstrous guilt j and’ *4 Oh! for Christ’s sake, do as thou hast said.”
Q. What is the principal thing of which we take hold, in embracing Christ? A. His person, Acts xvi. 31.
Q. Have sinners always the person of Christ most directly in view, when they first believe?
A. No but often some particular blessing, as pardon of sin, a new heart, drawing grace, &c. Acts xvi. 30.
■Q. How then do we principally receive the person of Christ? A. As we only believe, expect, and desire
that blessing in and through Christ, Acts xvi. 30, 31. Q^ In what manner do we receive Christ? A. As he is offered in the gospel, John iii. 27. Q. How do we receive Christ fully? A. By embracing him in his whole person, offices, relanons and benefits, as our all, Song ii. 16. and v. 10,-16. * Q. How do we receive him freely? A. By receiving him in the view of our being utterly unworthy of any good, and most worthy of eternal ruin, J. Tim. i. 15.
Q. How do we receive him in agreeableness to his being earnestly offered? A. By receiving him with great earnestness, and most fervent desire, Prov. xxiii. 26.
Q. How do we receive him in agreeableness to his being indefinitely offered? A. By applying the offer .as particularly to ourselves as if it had pointed us out byname, and were not to another, Gal. ii. 20.
O. When is the word of the gospel thus believed? A. When Christ applies it by the power of his Spirit to ur hearts, John v. 25. 1 Thess. ii. 13.
■Q. How doth the Spirit make us to embrace Christ? A. By persuading and enabling us to it, John vi. Q. What need is there of his persuading us to embrace Chriet? A. Because we are naturally averse to it.
Q. Cannot men effectually persuade us to embrace Christ? A. No; not in the least, Heb. iv. 2.
Q^How doth the Spirit persuade us to embrace Christ? A. By shewing us strong reasons for it, and answering all our objections against it, Isa. Iv. 1,-13.
Q. What powerful motives, and strong reasons, for embracing Christ, does the Spirit shew us? A. Our
great need of himy his infinite excellency, love, and earnestness to become ours ‘7 the great advantage of receiving, and danger of refusing him, &c. Song v.
Q. How doth he remove all our objections against our present receiving of Christ? A. By convincing us,
that the least delay may ruin us for ever 5 that fears of our day of grace being past, of our reprobation, or having committed the unpardonable sin, ought not to hinder, but to excite us to a present embracement of Christ.
Q. Why must the Spirit enable us to embrace Christ?
A. Because by nature we have no strength to do any thing spiritually good, Rom. v. 6. Eph. ii. 1J 1 Cor. ii. 14.
Q. How doth the Spirit enable us to embrace Christ?
A. He conveys strength into our hearts, by the persuasion of the word of the gospel, Isa. xl. 31.
Q. By what means does the Spirit persuade and enable us to embrace Christ? A. By convincing our consciences, enlightening our minds, and renewing our wills 5 which are the three parts of effectual calling.
(). What is the first part, of the Spirit’s work upon us?V
A. Conviction, John xvi. 8. Rom. vii. 9.
Q. What is in general understood by conviction?
A. The presenting a thing so clearly to our view, that we must see, and be affected with it, John xvi. 8, — 11.
A. Of our sin and misery, Rom. iii. John xvi.
guilt, filth, strength, number, and aggravations of our sin.
Q. What do we think of ourselves when convinced of the guilt of sin? A. We see that we are ruined
for ever, if God’s rich and free grace do not prevent it.
Q. What -do you think of ourselves when convinced of the filth of sin? A. We see ourselves, and our works,,
even the best, to be vile and abominable before God.
Q. What do we think of ourselves when convinced of the strength of our sin? A. We see we can do nothing
“but sin, and cannot cease from sinning, Rom. vii. S, — 13.
Q. What do we think of ourselves when we are convinced of the number of our sins? A. We see that none can understand our errors, which are more than the hairs of our head, Psalm xix. 12. and xl. 12.
Q. What do we think of ourselves wh«n we are convinced of the aggravations of our siis?
A. We look on ourselves as the very chief of sinners, 1 Tim. i. 15.
£h With what sins do convictions ordinarily fcegin?
A. With outward acts of sin, chiefly those of the grosser kind, John iv. 16. Acts ix. 4. and ii. 36, 3T.
Q. Do right convictions of sin stop there? A. No? but to proceed to more secret and refined sins, John ix. 29.
Q. How may we know if our convictions are carried to a proper length? A. If we have been convinced of
the great vileness of our unbelief, original sin, beloved lusts, and best duties, John xvi. 9. Psalm 1L 5.
A. Of the spiritual misery which we are under, and the eternal misery to which we are liabie, Eph. ii. 12.
Q. Of what concerning our misery doth the Spirit convince us? A. Of the certainty, greatness, nearness, and justness thereof, Acts xvi. 30.
Q. By what doth the Spirit convince us of the filth of sin? A. By the command of the law, Rom. iii. 20.
Q. By what doth the Spirit convince us of our guilt and misery?
A. By the threatenings of the law, Rom. iii. 19.
Qj How doth he convince us of our sin by the law
A. He presents to our conscience the law of God in its spirituality and breadth, and the contrariety of Our heart and life to it, Rom. vii. S. Matth. v. 1SS — 48.
Q. What is the fruit and effect of these convictions?
A. Great shame and fear, Acts ii. 37* and xvi, 30.
Q. Why cannot other men convince us of sin?
A. Because they cannot awaken our conscience.
Q. Why cannot we convince ourselves? A. Because by nature we are blind, and full of self-conceit.
Qj What effect hath this self-conceit upon our convictions? A. It tends to stifle them, Deut. xxix. 19,
Q. How do we often stifle our convictions?
A. By confining our thoughts to the badness of our actions, without impressions of the badness of our state *? rebelling against convictions, or diverting them by vain projects or company y or by bribing our conscience with duties, and legal resolutions, as an atonement for our faults, &c. Deut. xxix. 19. Acts xxiv. 25.
Q. Do convictions of themselves make us any betters t N
A. Though they may produce outward reformation of life, yet our heart is occasionally made worse by them.
£). How are convictions the occasion of our heart’s becoming worse? A. This flows not from their own nature but sin taketh occasion thereby to fill us with wrath against God for the strictness of his law, and disposeth us to seek to establish our own righteousness, in opposition to the righteousness of Christ, Rom. vii. 8, — 13.
Q. Why is conviction necessary? A. To make us
see our absolute need of Christ for salvation, Gal. iv. 24.
Q. What. measure of conviction is necessary?
A. So much as to render us sensible, that we are utterly lost and undone without Christ, Acts ii. 37. and xvi. 30.
Q, Who have ordinarily the sharpest convictions.?
A. Such as have been most hardened in sin, guilty of many gross sins, or are designed for special use in the church of God, Rom. vii. 8, — 13. Acts ii. 36, 37. and xvi. 30.
Q. Are convictions necessary to give us a title to Christ?
A. No j but to stir us up to flee to Christ, Gal. iv. 24.
O. May we have strong convictions and yet be damned? A. Yes; as Cain, Judas, &c. wrere, Gen. iv.
O. What more is then necessary to salvation?
A. The enlightening of our mind, by enabling it to discern spiritual things, 2 Cor. iv. 6. Eph. i. 18, 19.
Q. In wThat doth the Spirit enlighten our mind?
A. In the knowledge of Christ, Gal. i. 16. Eph. i. 17, 18.
Q. In the knowledge of what of Christ is our mind enlightened? A. In the knowledge of his person,
offices, relations, righteousness, fulness, love, ckc.
Q. What are we made to know concerning his person?
A. That he is infinitely glorious, and fit to be matched with us, as he is God’s Son, and our near kinsman.
O. What are we made to know concerning his offices and relations? A. That they are wonderful and excellent, suited to our case, and shall be infinitely well filled up and executed by Christ, Song v. 10, — 16.
Q. What are we made to know concerning his righteousness? A. That it is infinitely perfect, law-magnifying, and God-exalting, suited to the chief of sirners, and to us in particular y that it merits all blessings, and endureth for ever, Isa. xlii. 21. Dan. ix. 24. Rom. v.. Q. What are we made to know concerning his fulness of grace and glory? A. That it is infinite, precious,
and suitable j is lodged in our kind Brother j and brought near to us in the gospel, Col. i. 19. Isa. xlvi. 12, 13.
Q. What are we made to know concerning his love?
A. The antiquity, freedom, sovereignty, greatness, and everlasting duration of it, John iii. 1. and iv. 10, 19.
Q. Are we not then made to see ail the attributes of God shining gloriously in Christ?
A. Yes; 2 Cor. iv. 6.
Q. What are the properties of the saving knowledge of Christ? A. It is an humbling, sanctifying, and
growing knowledge, Isa. vi. 5. Job xl. 3. 1 Pet. iii. 18.
Q. How is it humbling?
A. It makes us more than ever see ourselves and our sin to be vile and ugly, Job xlii. 5. 6.
Q. How doth the knowledge of Christ make us discern a greater ugliness in sin? A. Hereby we see how
foolish it was to prefer other things to Chri st *, and that .every act of our sin was a rebellion against a God of infinite love, Phil. iii. 8, 9. Zech. xii. 10. Job xlii. 5, 6.
Q. What effect hath this knowledge upon us with respect to Christ? - A. Our souls wonder at, and esteem him as the chief among ten thousand, and altogether lovely.
Q. What think we of the world when we thus discern Christ? A. We count all things but loss and dung
to win Christ, Phil. ii. 8, 9. Psalm lxxiii, 25, 26.
Q. What do we think of our own righteousness when we thus see Christ? A. We count it abominable and
filthy rags, Isa. lxiv. 6. Phil. iii. 9.
Q. For what end “is this enlightening of our mind necessary?
A. To cure our natural blindness and ignorance, and to engage our souls to embrace Christ, Gal. i. 16.
Q. May one have pleasant views of Christ, and yet be damned? A. Yes -y it is the case with many gospel-hearers, Matth. xiii. 20. Heb. vi. 4. Num. xxiii, xxiv.
Q. What then, besides conviction and illumination, is accessary to salvation? A. The renewing of our will* Q., What do you mean by the renewing of our will h N 2
A. The making it averse from evil, and inclined to good.
Q. Doth God renew our will by force? A. No $
he sweetly changes it, by means of the pleasant and attracting discoveries he makes of Christ, Psalm ex. 2, 3.
Q. What need is there of the renovation of our will?
A, Because our will is naturally full of enmity against Gca and we cannot renew it ourselves, Rom. viii. 7, 8.
Q. Why then doth God call us to make to ourselves a new heart and a new spirit? A. It is to shew us our du-y, and convince us of our inability, that we may apply to Christ for the promised new heart, Ez. xxxvi. 26.
Q. How is this work of God’s Spirit in uniting us to Christ, ordinarily called? A. A calling, regeneration, or new birth, conversion, resurrection, and new creation.
Q. Why is it termed a calling? A. Because the
work is performed by the invitation and voice of Christ in the gospel, Rom. iv. 17. Prov. viii. 4. Rev. xxii. 17.
Q. What are the properties of this calling?
A. It is an effectual, high, heavenly, and holy calling.
Q. Why is it termed an effectual calling? A. Because our soul is made to answer the call, Psalm ex. 3.
Q, What makes our soul to answer the call?
A. The drawing power of Christ that attends it, John xii. 32.
(£ Is there any call that is not effectual?
A. Yes j the mere outward call of the gospel.
Q. Whether is the least or greatest part of gospel hearers effectually called? A. The least part by far: Many are called, but few are chosen, Matth. xx. 16.
Q. Why is it termed an high calling?
A. It is of God j and calls us to high honour and happiness, Phil. iii. 14.
Q, Why is it termed an heavenly calling?
A. It is most glorious; it comes from heaven, and draws up our heart to heavenly things, Heb. xii. 25.
Q. Why is it termed an holy calling? A. Because
thereby we are made partakers of God’s holiness, being made holy as he is holy, 2 Pet. i. 4. 2 Tim. i. 9.
Q From and to what are we hereby called?
A. From the power of sin and Satan to God *, from darkness to light *, from death to life ‘, from bondage to liberty, &c. Acts xxvi. 18. Col. i. 13. 1 Pet. ii. 9.
Q. Why is this work called a “ew birth or regeneration? A. Because therein, without our own age cy, and with some pain, we are made partakers of a divine nature imperfectly conformed to God as our Father in our whole man, and brought into a new world.
Q. Into what new world are we brought? A. Into Christ’s invisible church, the world of grace. Q.. Who are the inhabitants of this new world? A. All saints, and none else, 1 Pet. ii. 9. Q. By what door do men enter into this new world? A. By Christ, the door, the way, the truth, and the life. Q. “What is the sun, light, food, raiment, &c. of this sew world? A. Christ is the all and in all of it.
Q. Why is this work of the Spiri; called conversion $ A. Because therein we are turned from sin to God. Q^Is not conversion often used to signify only the soul’s actual motion towards God, after it is quickened or regenerated by him? A. Yes •, Isa. vi. 10. Q. Why is this work called a resurrection? A. Because therein we are brought out of the grave of sin to newness of life, Rom. vi. 4, 5.
Q. Why is it called a creation $ A. Because
therein God forms (not new substance, but) new qualities in our heart by the word of his power, Eph. i. 19.
Q. Why is the person thus changed called a new creature P A. Because all things in him are made new. Q. What in us is made new in effectual calling? A. Our mind, conscience, will, affections, memory, body, and conversation, 2 Cor. v. 17.. Qj Wherein is our mind made new? A. In its apprehension, judgment, estimation, thoughts, devices, and designs, Micah vii. 18. Psalm cxix. 128, &c. Q^ How is our mind made new in its apprehension? - A. It now apprehends a beauty, loveliness, honour, and advantage in spiritual things y and an ugliness and danger in sin, Song v. 10, — 16. -Isa. vi. 5.
Qj How is our mind made new in its judgment £ A. It now assents to God’s truths, and dissents from the suggestions of sin, Satan, and the world.
Q. How is our mind made new in its thoughts? A. Now our meditation is in God’s law j and our me* ditation of him is sweet, Psalm civ. 34. Q^ How is our mind made new in its devices, designs, N 3 and inquiries? A. We now enquire what we shall do to be saved •, when God will come to our soul; how sin may be effectually ruined in us, &.c. Acts xvi. Psalm ci.
Q. How is our conscience made new?
A- It is softened by Christ’s blood, enlightened by his Spirit, and stirs us up against spiritual wickedness, and to spiritual duties.
Q. Wherein is our will made new in conversion?
A. In its inclination, aim, delight, choice, and purpose.
Q. Howr is it made new in its inclination?
A. Our will is now freely, powerfully, and constantly inclined towards God in Christ, Psalm xviii. 1. and xlii. 1.
Q How is our will made new with respect to aim?
A. Now its chief aim is to be like God, and to be with him j and to promote his honour in the world.
Q. How is our will made new as to delight and rat?
A. Its chief delight is now in the law of God, and in fellowship with him j and not in worldly honours, riches, or pleasures, Psalm iv. 7. and cxix. 16.
Qj. How is our will made new in its choice? A. It
row chuseth the reality of religion rather than the shew of it, and to enjoy and obey God rather than any other.
Q^How is our will made new in its purposes /
A. It now purposes to leave all, especially secret and beloved sins, and to practise every known duty, Psalm cxix. 106.
Qj. How are our affections made new?
A. They are rightly placed and rightly bounded.
Q. How are our affections rightly placed?
A. Love is set upon God, and hatred against sin, &c.
Q. How are our lawful affections rightly bounded?
A. We are in some measure determined to love creatures in that degree God’s law requires, and out of regard to his authority and honour, Matth. x. 37. Heb. xiii. 1.
Q. How is our memory made new? A. It is
“weakened with respect to things sinful and trifling, and strengthened to remember the word and works of God.
Q. How is our body made new?
A. It is made new in its use, being dedicated to, and a ready instrument in the service of, God, Rom. vi. 13.
O. How is our conversation made new?
A. We now chuse the fearers of God for our comp*’- nibns, are concerned for the church of Christ, and %ealouf in good ‘works ‘, Psalm cxix. 63. and cxxxvii. 4, 5. Q. What is the necessity of this great change? A. Except we be thus born again, we cannot enter inte the kingdom of God, John iii. 3, 5. Rev. xxi.
O. Can we have any communion with God, or receive any spiritual blessing without this change? A. No*
Q. What is all our religion, if we want this great change? A. An abomination to God, Prov. xv. 8.
Q. What would heaven be to us, if we could get thither without this change? A. The holiness of it would
make it nauseous, and a burden to us, Rom. viii. 7, 8.
Q. What is the best season for getting this great change wrought in us? A. The season of youth, Prov. viii. 17. Q. How is youth the fittest season of conversion? A. Then our lusts are less strong, conscience more easily roused, affections more pliable, carnal cares fess heavy; and God hath promised special encouragement to an early concern about our souls, Eccl. xii. 1. Psal. xxxiv. 11.
Q. What special encouragement has God promised to an early concern about our souls? A. He hath said, They that seek me early, shall find me; and, Suffer little children to come to me, &c Prov. viii. 17. Mark x. 14.
Q, Is any such promise made to such as wilfully delay seeking of God till old age?
A. No y God rather says of such, They shall seek me, but they shall not find me, Prov. i. 24,-28.
Q. Hath not an early convert more time to get communion with God on earth? and is not early communion with him singularly sweet and pleasant? A. Yes j Jer. ii. 2.
Q. Is it not great folly and madness to bestow the flower of youth upon the service of Satan? A. Yes*
Qj How may we know if we are effectually calied? A. If we love all that bear Christ’s image j count ourselves vile and worthless before God; and desire above all things to be like him, and with him, 1 John iii. 16.
Q. What is our duty if we find this change has not
been wrought in us? A. Carefully to wait on the oiJinances of God’s grace, and cry for the Spirit to apply them
with power unto our hearts, Prov. viii. 34. Isa. lv. 1, 2, 3,
O, What is our duty if we are thus changed?.
A. Greatly to bless the Lord for it j and to walk in holiness as the children of God, Psalm ciii. 1, — 6. and cxiv.