The way in which the Spirit works faith is this:He first comes in the Word, and enters into the heart of the elect sinner dead in sin; and when he has thus entered, he quickens it by working faith in it. By this faith the soul apprehends Christ, and actually unites with him. Being quickened and actuated, it acts in believing. Hence there is a twofold reception of Christ. 1. A passive reception of

him, in which Christ comes by his Spirit into the soul dead in sin, and quickens it, and joins himself to it. 2. An actice reception of him, when the soul, having faith wrought in it, actually believes and receives Christ, embraces him, and joins itself to him.

Obs. 131.-By faith the believer is united to Christ.

That there is such a thing as union with Jesus Christ, will be evident from the following things:

1. From the use of many expressions in Scripture to point it out. Christ is said to be in believers, and believers are said to be in Jesus Christ; which, as it were, completes the union; for if Christ be in his people, and they in him, then must this be a truth.-Col. i. 27; 1 Cor. i. 30. Christ is also said to dwell in his people, and they are said to dwell in him.—John vi. 56. They are also said to abide in one another; which denotes a settled rest.-John xv. And his people are said to be one spirit with him, and to put on Christ.-1 Cor. vi. 17; Gal. iii. 27.

2. From the use of many similitudes, in order that we may be able to form some idea of its glory. Various unions are exhibited in Scripture to illustrate it; some of which far surpass the union between Christ and believers, and others are far surpassed by it. This union is compared to the marriage union between husband and wife; to the union which exists between the foundation and superstructure; to the union between the root of a tree and its branches; to the union between the head and the members; to the union of our food with our body, and hence Christ is called our life; and to the union between the persons of the Godhead; all which shows, that the union between Christ and believers is more than a relative union, or a union which takes place in this world in the various circumstances of life.

3. From our union with the first Adam. When he fell from his state of innocence, all his posterity fell with him, because they were federally one with him. In like manner,

when Jesus fulfilled all righteousness, it was in the room of his people; so that they must be federally one with him as their head and husband.

With respect to the bond of this union: 1. On the believer's part, it is faith, which is wrought in him, not by any power of his own, but by the powerful operation of the Spirit of God. 2. On the part of Christ, it is the word of the Father pledged, that faith shall be wrought in the souls of his people; and the Spirit pledged also, that they may not depart from Christ.

Obs. 132.-Believers are united to Christ in effectual calling.

The union between Christ and believers is formed in the day of effectual calling,—termed a calling, because the work of the Spirit supposes all to be at a distance from God, as they certainly are while in a natural state, or while not united to Christ; and an effectual calling, because the work of the Spirit actually unites the soul to Christ.

Obs. 133.-The union between Christ and believers is a real, a mysterious, an intimate, a spiritual, and an eternal union.

1. The union between Christ and believers is a real union. It is much more than a relative union, or such a union as takes place in several relations in life; although it is compared to some of these.-See Eph. v. 30; John xiv. 20; 1 John v. 12; Heb. iii. 14.

2. The union between Christ and believers is a mysterious union. See Eph. v. 32, and Col. i. 27; where a higher name is given to it. See also 2 Cor. vi. 16; Gal. ii. 20; 1 John iv. 16; Gal. iii. 27; John vi. 56.

3. The union between Christ and believers is a most intimate union.-See John xvii. 21.

4. The union between Christ and believers is a spiritual union.-1 Cor. vi. 17; Rom. viii. 9. This is evident from its consequences; for no sooner does it take place, than the soul is engaged in spiritual exercises.

5. The union between Christ and believers is an indissoluble or an eternal union.-See Eph. iv. 13; John x. 28, 29; Rom. viii. 35, &c.; Isa. liv. 10.

INFERENCES.

From this subject we learn,-1. The duty of believers,— viz., to give evidence, by their conduct in the world, that

they are in Christ. 2. That sinners ought to seek after such a happy relation while it may be found, and while, in the offer of the Gospel, Christ is ready to come in, and to take up his abode in the soul for ever. 3. The absolute necessity of faith in forming this mysterious union. 4. That there is no happiness to be compared with that of being in Christ. 5. That if we are in Christ, God the Father is well pleased with us. 6. That believers have an inexhaustible source of every comfort, to which they may repair in every time of need. 7. That as all believers are joined to the Lord by one spirit, they ought to live together in the bonds of brotherly love. 8. That believers shall not fall finally.

Of the Manner and Order of the Application of Redemption in Effectual Calling.

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.

ANALYSIS AND PROOFS.

We are here taught,—

1. That effectual calling is the work of the Holy Spirit. John xvi. 14." He shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you." See also 2 Tim. i. 9.

2. That in effectual calling the Spirit convinces of sin. John xvi. 8.-" He will reprove (or convince) the world of sin."

3. That in effectual calling the Spirit convinces of misery. Acts xvi. 29, 30.-" He came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas,-and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" See also Rom. vii. 10, and Acts ii. 37.

4. That in effectual calling the mind is enlightened in the knowledge of Christ. 1 Pet. ii. 9.-"Who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light." See also Eph. i. 18, and Phil. iii. 8.

5. That in effectual calling the will is renewed. Ezek. xxxvi. 26.-" A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you."

6. That in effectual calling we are persuaded to embrace Jesus Christ. John vi. 44.-"No man can come to me, except the Father, who hath sent me, draw him."

Heb. xi. 13.

See also

7. That in effectual calling we are enabled to embrace Jesus Christ. Phil. ii. 13.-"It is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure." See also Ezek. xxxvi. 27.

8. That Jesus Christ is freely offered to all men in the Gospel. Rev. xxii. 17.—“ Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely." See also Isa. lv. 1.

EXPLANATION.

Obs. 134.—Effectual calling is the work of the Spirit of God. The call of the Gospel is twofold.

1. There is the external or outward call of the Word; by which we are to understand the free and unlimited offer of Christ in the Gospel to all the hearers of it, without money and without price.-Isa. lv. 1. This call, however fervent and importunate it may be, and however much designed for the salvation of those to whom it is directed, is rejected by the greater part of the hearers of the Gospel.

2. There is the internal, or inward and effectual call; by which we are to understand the Holy Spirit's accompanying the external call with power and efficacy on the soul, for its everlasting salvation.-John v. 25.

Should it be here objected, that it is inconsistent to call all to embrace Christ, when they cannot, and when they shall never be enabled to believe in and embrace him; we answer, that as there is an unlimited offer made of Christ in the Gospel to all men, whatever their character and state may be, so it is the duty of ministers of the Gospel, who are altogether ignorant of the purposes of God, to invite all who hear them to come to him. It is true, indeed, that none are able of themselves to embrace Christ or believe in him; but it is equally true, and much worse, that they will not believe in him.-See John v. 40.

The work of the Spirit is termed a calling, because all are supposed to be naturally far from God and from righteousness, to be at a distance from him who is the portion of the soul; and because it requires the voice of the Son of God, speaking in the Scriptures, to bring sinners to embrace him as he is offered in the Gospel.

Effectual calling is termed a work, because it is not perfected or completed at once, but performed by various operations or workings of the Spirit of God on the soul.—Eph. i. 17, &c.; Acts ii. 37, 38.

That the work of the Spirit in effectual calling is absolutely necessary, is evident from the condition of sinners by nature. If by nature they are dead, they cannot put life into themselves; if they are asleep in their sins, they must be awaked; if they are afar off, they must be brought nigh; if they are stout-hearted, their hearts must be softened; if they are in their sins, they must be convinced of sin; if their understandings are darkened, they must be enlightened; if their wills are perverted, they must be renewed; if they are unwilling to embrace Christ, they must be made willing; if they are unable to do it, they must be enabled.

Obs. 135.-In effectual calling the Spirit convinces of sin and misery.

This he does when he gives a clear sight and full persuasion of the guilt of sin, both original and actual; and when he gives a feeling apprehension of the dreadful wrath of God, and the endless miseries of hell, which the sinner has deserved on account of sin, and to which it exposes him. This wounds the conscience, and fills the sinner with anxiety respecting his salvation.-John xvi. 8; Acts ii. 37, and xvi. 27.

The means which the Spirit makes use of to convince of sin and misery, is the Word of God, and particularly the law; for "by the law is the knowledge of sin."-Rom. iii. 20. When the sinner views the holy commandments of the law, he is convinced of the evil nature of sin; and when he contemplates the threatenings of the law, he sees the guilt of sin and what it deserves.-Rom. vii. 7; Gal. iii. 10.

It may here be remarked, that conviction is not alike in all. But it is absolutely necessary, that every sinner be convinced of the sin of his nature, and of the sins of his heart and life, and also of his absolute need of Christ and his salvation. It must, however, be remembered, that this measure of conviction is necessary, not as a condition of our welcome to Christ, nor as a qualification fitting us to believe in him, but only as a motive to excite us to make use of our privilege of free access to him.-Hos. xiv. 1.

Obs. 136. In effectual calling the Spirit enlightens the mind in the knowledge of Christ.