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CHAP. X.
Of Effectual Calling.
1. Those whom God hath predestinated unto Life,
he is pleased in his appointed, and accepted time, (a)
effectually to call by his word, and Spirit, out of that state of sin,
and death, in which they are by nature, to grace and Salvation (b)
by Jesus Christ; inlightning their minds, spiritually, and savingly to
(c) understand the things of God;
taking away their (d) heart of stone,
and giving unto them an heart of flesh; renewing their wills, and by his
Almighty power determining them (e)
to that which is good, and effectually drawing them to Jesus Christ; yet
so as they come (f) most freely,
being made willing by his Grace.
a Rom. 8.30. Rom. 11.7. Eph. 1.10,11.
2 Thes. 3.13,14.[Note]
2. This Effectual Call is of God's free, and special
grace alone, (g) not from any thing
at all foreseen in man, nor from any power, or agency in the Creature,
coworking with his special Grace, (h)
the Creature being wholly passive therein, being dead in sins and trespasses,
until being quickned & renewed by the holy Spirit, he is thereby enabled
to answer this call, and to embrace the Grace offered and conveyed in it;
and that by no less (i) power, then
that which raised up Christ from the dead.
g 2 Tim. 1.9. Eph. 2.8.
3. Elect Infants dying in infancy, are (k)
regenerated and saved by Christ through the Spirit; who worketh when, and
where, and (l) how he pleaseth:
so also are all other elect persons, who are uncapable of being outwardly
called by the Ministry of the Word.
k Joh. 3.3 5,6.
4. Others not elected, although they may be called
by the Ministry of the word, (m)
and may have some common operations of the Spirit, yet not being effectually
drawn by the Father, they neither will, nor can truly (n)
come to Christ; and therefore cannot be saved: much less can men that receive
not the Christian Religion (o) be
saved; be they never so diligent to frame their lives according to the
light of nature, and the Law of that Religion they do profess.
m Mat. 22 14. ch. 13.20,21. Heb.
6.4,5.
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