DIVINE CALLING

Simeon—Signifies—He That Hears, And Obeys

By dear Simeon:

THERE is one invariable way in which God puts a sinner into possession of the blessings of the gospel, and treasures of the covenant of grace; viz. by opening personal intercourse between himself and the soul, which is in scripture language calling him by his grace. Gal. 1:15.

No spiritual blessing can be enjoyed prior to this call, nor can one good thing fail, which the Lord hath spoken unto the house of Israel subsequent to it. It is therefore of peculiar importance to “give deligence to make your calling, and election sure.” 2 Peter 1:10. In this momentous affair I am desirous to afford you a little assistance, and have now taken up my pen for that purpose.

To set the subject in a clear light, I must apprise you, that I am not now treating of the open and general call, or proclamation of the gospel, alluded to in Prov. 8:4 and Matt. 22:14; but of the spiritual and internal call, by which a sinner’s heart is broken, and a divine change effected.

This calling, not only reaches the ear, but awakens the conscience of the sinner to spiritual concern; it presents eternal realities to his view, and is nothing less than the communication of divine life to his soul, which appears in the Saviour’s asseveration, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God, and they that hear shall live.” John 5:25. It is, therefore, something more than natural cause and effect; it is the secret, but powerful voice of Jehovah—Jesus, asserting his right to the purchase of his blood, and demanding them by supernatural power and influence, out of the hand of the usurper, by whom they have been enslaved.

Divine calling is the uniting link in the chain of gospel-truth, and a firm hold of this will enable my dear young friend to recognize his interest in the whole economy of grace, and appropriate all the fulness of Christ; I will therefore dwell a little minutely upon it, intreating the Holy Spirit to give his blessing to the observations I shall make.

To begin with its order, it is said to be according to the divine purpose, Rom. 8:28; i.e. the calling of a sinner by grace, is regulated by the eternal purpose of God, as it regards the individual—the time—and the means to be employed. This is a most delightful fact, inasmuch as it encourages the poor sinner, called of God, to look back with inexpressible delight upon everlasting purposes, entered into by the eternal THREE on his behalf, and constrains him to love and trust the God that thought of him from eternity; “For whom he did predestinate them he also called,” nor can all the power of hell and sin, prevent the calling and salvation of those on whom Jehovah’s purpose of love is fixed.

Divine sovereignty is stamped on every instance of divine calling; neither the will of man, natural affection, nor moral worth is consulted. “I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion;” and, do we not often see the husband—the wife—the parent, the child, called by grace, and made a new creature in Christ Jesus, while the hearts of all the rest of the family remain enmity against God.

But whenever God calls, he calls effectually; Satan may have fortified the mind with ten thousand prejudices, but when God speaks, they all give way; and though in the general proclamation of the gospel, God called and the sinner refused, yet, when he speaks to the heart, the answer is, “Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?” his will is changed, his enmity, subdued, his eyes are opened, and he is “called out of darkness into marvellous light;” yea, though old companions, pursuits, and corruptions, resist and rage, divine calling can never be withstood, because the divine purpose from which it proceeds can never be revoked: there is a power accompanying this effectual call, before which nothing can stand; neither persecution, privation, nor death, can prevent the mighty change which must take place in him whom the Lord our God shall call.

The express object of this divine call is beautifully stated by the apostle in his epistle to the Romans, Chap. 1:7: “Beloved of God, called to be saints,” i.e. called to be set apart from the world for God, to be sanctified by the Holy Spirit, and introduced to the privileges and portion of the saints: hence the same apostle calls it “a holy calling—a high calling—a heavenly calling,” &c. because we are thereby made partakers of the divine nature, which is holy; introduced to high privileges, and qualified for heavenly intercourse; all which is profound mystery, prior to divine calling, and consequently is despised as enthusiasm, shunned as presumption, or guarded against as extravagance! But the soul called with a holy calling, finds that all his holiness is in his participation of the divine nature, Christ dwelling in him; all his privileges are the gifts of sovereign grace, unbounded as the everlasting covenant, and unconditional as the bestowment of his natural existence; yea, his capacity to enjoy God and heaven, is wrought in him by the mighty operation of the Holy Spirit, so that he is nothing, has nothing, can do nothing good without Christ; but by this high calling, he is brought to discover that Christ is every thing, has every thing, and does every thing good, for him and in him.

Happy, thrice happy, the souls who arrive at the holy assurance expressed by Isaiah, “Lord thou wilt ordain peace for us, for thou also hast wrought all our work in us.” This is indeed high calling, “wherefore also I pray always for you” (my dear Simeon) “That our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power.” 2 Thess. 1:11. “Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.” We are said to be admitted to a participation of all that is in Christ by this calling, and to have our union with him effected and made known by the same medium; thus I understand the apostle, when he says, “God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord,” 1 Cor. 1:9; that is, called to discern and appropriate his infinite fulness of merit and grace, yea, himself, as our “Wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption:” and to enjoy holy intimacy with him, in all his covenant offices and relations.

Divine calling is the porch to gospel liberty, “for, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty,” Gal. 5:13; to be liberated not merely from legal ceremonies, but from the galling yoke of sin, and the power of the law, as a covenant of works, to the enjoyment of the full and free salvation that is in Christ Jesus; so that the soul called by grace, can no longer be held in the service of sin, nor is it any more exposed to the curse of the law, but is pardoned fully, justified freely, and entitled to the liberty of a child of God. In this blessed freedom all the promises of the gospel may be embraced—the righteousness of Christ claimed as his own—the fulness of the covenant lived upon as his portion—and the throne of grace approached with holy familiarity.

Moreover, there is an inseparable connection between divine calling, and eternal glory, “for whom he called, them he also justified, and whom he justified, them he also glorified;” hence the apostle Peter informs us, that “the God of all grace hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus,” so that effectual calling is the fruit of electing love, and the pledge of eternal glory; both which may be claimed by the soul that can make his calling sure.

Electing love—divine calling—and e ternal glory, are the three points, within which, all that pertains to a man’s salvation is included; every other doctrine—promises—precept—and feature of Christian experience, will be found within their sacred limits, nor can sin, death or hell, time or eternity, dissolve the connection which exists between them.

By this time, my dear Simeon is anxious, no doubt, to trace the evidences of divine calling in the heart, as a matter of essential moment; and I will close these observations, by offering a little assistance for that important purpose; praying the Holy-Spirit to carry on his own work thereby, in the heart of the reader, and of the writer.

The Lord calls all his people to be soldiers, therefore if you are putting on the armor of God, fighting the good fight, and maintaining perpetual war with sin, especially within your own heart, this proves divine calling. Again, “God hath not called us unto uncleanness but unto holiness,” therefore, if holiness be the element to which you are aspiring, and everything unholy be obnoxious to you, then it is certain God hath called you; in a word, if Christ be precious — if his cross be your glory—if his love constrain you to cultivate intimacy with him, you may join in the apostolic song of praise to God, “who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but, according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began.” 2 Tim. 1:9.

Suffer not the power of unbelief to destroy the comfort that belongs to those who are called of God by disputing that call in your soul: what could produce your heart-felt concern and your anxious looking for pardon, peace and life? surely even this is the work of the Lord, and proves your interest in that gracious declaration made to the church, “Fear not, for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name, thou art mine.”

“I therefore beseech you that you walk worthy of the vocation wherewith you are called.” “And let the peace of God rule in your heart to the which also ye are called, and be thankful.” “As he which hath called you is holy so be ye holy in all manner of conversation.”

I remain, my dear Simeon,
Your affectionate fellow traveller to glory,

Pause, O my soul! and gaze with fix’d delight
Upon that matchless symmetry of truth.
See, how eternal love, and quickening grace
Unite, to glorify the heirs of bliss.
Predestinated to be sons—and call’d
By sovereign grace their sonship to enjoy,
They bear the Saviour’s image, stand complete
In him, with whom they shall be glorified.
Election—calling—and eternal bliss
Stand prominent in heaven’s archives—describe
Jehovah’s family—and bind secure
As with a three-fold cord, the Spirit’s work—
The Saviour’s name—the Father’s love; in one
Divine—eternal—matchless cov’nant scheme!
Hail, ransom’d sinners, called to be saints!
Sing of the grace which stopp’d your sinful course;
Admire its sovereignty, and own its power.
In vain the voice of man, vain all the calls
Of Providence, till Jesus spake with power;
Then, with a broken heart and trembling voice,
“Speak, Lord, thy servant hears,” your heart exclaim’d
He spake! and quickening power came with his word,
Which melted, pardon’d and reviv’d the soul:
He call’d, yea, still he calls the chosen race,
Away from earth and sin, to holiness.
His call imparts the power t’ obey his voice,
And draws the soul to love and trust his name;
That trust, is faith in exercise, which proves
Election—makes salvation sure, and bids
The trembling soul dismiss his slavish fear.
Again he calls—t’ invite his ransom’d home,
Made meet t’ enjoy the presence of their Lord,
He owns them heirs of glory, and of God,
Gives them a seat at his right hand above,
To drink full draughts of everlasting bliss.

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