Chap. XVIII. -- Of our Vocation, or God's Calling us.

Q. 1. By what means do we become actual members of this church of God?

A. By a lively justifying faith, [74] whereby we are united unto Christ, the head thereof. Acts ii. 47, xiii. 48; Heb. xi. 6, xii. 22, 23, iv. 2; Rom. v. 1, 2; Eph. ii. 13, 14.

Q. 2. What is a justifying faith?

A. A ^agracious resting upon [75] the free promises of God in Jesus Christ for mercy, ^bwith a firm persuasion of heart that God is a reconciled Father unto us in the Son of his love. ^a1 Tim. i. 16; Job xiii. 15, xix. 25; Rom. iv. 5. ^bHeb. iv. 16; Rom. viii. 38, 39; Gal. ii. 20; 2 Cor. v. 20, 21.

Q. 3. Have all this faith?

A. None but the elect of God. Tit. i. 1; John x. 26; Matt. xiii. 11; Acts xiii. 48; Rom. viii. 30.

Q. 4. Do not, then, others believe that make profession?

A. Yes; with, first, historical faith, or a persuasion that the things written in the Word are true, James ii. 19; secondly, temporary faith, which hath some joy of the affections, upon unspiritual grounds, in the things believed. Matt. xiii. 20; Mark vi. 20; John ii. 23, 24; Acts viii. 13.

[74] Of this faith the Holy Spirit is the efficient cause, the Word, the instrumental; -- the Law indirectly, by discovering our misery; the Gospel immediately, by holding forth a Saviour.

[75] Faith is in the understanding, in respect of its being and subsistence, -- in the will and heart, in respect of its effectual working.

Q. 1. How come we to have this saving faith?

A. It is freely bestowed upon us and wrought in us by the Spirit of God, in our vocation or calling. John vi. 29, 44; Eph. ii. 8, 9; Phil. i. 29; 2 Thess. i. 11.

Q. 2. What is our vocation, or this calling of God?

A. The free, gracious [76] [77] act of Almighty God, whereby in Jesus Christ he calleth and translateth us from the state of nature, sin, wrath, and corruption, into the state of grace and union with Christ, by the mighty, effectual working of his Spirit in the preaching of the Word. Col. i. 12, 13; 2 Tim. i. 9; Deut. xxx. 6; Ezek. xxxvi. 26; Matt. xi. 25, 26; John i. 13, iii. 3, 8; Eph. i. 19; Col. ii. 12; 1 Cor. iv. 7; James i. 18; 2 Pet. ii. 20; Acts xvi. 14.

Q. 3. What do we ourselves perform in this change, or work of our conversion?

A. Nothing at all, being merely [78] wrought upon by the free grace and Spirit of God, when in ourselves we have no ability to any thing that is spiritually good. Matt. vii. 18, x. 20; John i. 13, xv. 5; 1 Cor. xii. 3, ii. 5; 2 Cor. iii. 5; Eph ii. 1, 8; Rom. viii. 26; Phil. i. 6.

Q. 4. Doth God thus call all and every one?

A. All within the pale of the church are outwardly called by the Word,
none effectually but the elect.
Matt. xxii. 14; Rom. viii. 30.

[76] Our effectual calling is the first effect of our everlasting election.

[77] We have no actual interest in nor right unto Christ, until we are thus called.

[78] They who so boast of the strength of free-will in the work of our conversion are themselves an example what it is being given up to so vile an error, -- destitute of the grace of God.