Election Sermon

George Wyllys, Secr.

An Election SERMON.

But as God hath distributed to every Man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him Walk. —

MAN is made after a fearful and wonderful Manner; indued with noble intellectual Powers; a social Creature, capable of moral Government; and formed for Society both civil and religious. We were designed for noble Ends and Purposes, furnished with different Gifts, and endowed with different Talents, made for Usefulness in the World, and called to different Offices; and are all under very great and powerful Obligations to abide and act in our own Spheres, making the Glory of GOD, our own Happiness, and the best Good of our Fellow-Creatures the great End of all our Actions. Man's chief End is, to glorify GOD, and enjoy him for p. 6ever. And as we would glorify God and be approved of him, we must through Grace in Christ, make him our only Trust; live dependant upon him, and devoted to him; we must love him with all our Hearts, supremely, ultimately and universally; and love our Neighbour as ourselves: The Redeemer's Interest must lie with weight upon our Minds; we must be of a publick Spirit, Friends to lawful Society, and lay ourselves out in the right Improvement of our several Gifts, Talents and Advantages. We are embodied Spirits, and related to both Worlds in this Respect: and while we dwell in this, we are acting for the next, which we shall find a World of intollerable and endless Misery, or of unspeakable and everlasting Joy and Felicity, according to 〈…〉 Behaviour. If we are found at last to have abused our Gifts distributed to us by a gracious GOD, and to have perverted them to the basest Ends; or to have wrapt them up in a Napkin, and not used them at all to those Purposes GOD designed in giving them; we shall be deemed slothful and unprofitable Servants, and doom'd to remediless Ruin: But if we are found, through Grace in the Redeemer, to have answered in a good Measure, the great Ends of our Being; to have acted well in our Orbit, and to have been Serviceable p. 7in the advancement of Christ's Kingdom, and the best Interest of that Body to which we belonged, we shall through the Merits of our Lord and Saviour, receive an ample Reward, even a crown of life in the coming world. And of all Men it concerns us thus to Serve GOD and our Generation: for our Advantages are distinguishing, and our Obligations arise in Proportion to our Privileges and Advantages. The Word of GOD plainly reveals, and strictly enjoyns this, that more sure Word of Prophecy, whereunto we do well that we take Heed. This is implied and inculcated in the Words of our Text. But as God hath distributed to every Man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk. — The Duty enjoyned with divine Authority is plain, altho' the Reward is not particularly mentioned: but all Gospel Precepts, Encouragements and Exhortations are urged with this Motive, (viz.) That they who reject the divine Counsels and continue Obstinate shall perish in their Rebellion; while they that hearken, believe, and obey, through the efficacious Influences of the Holy Ghost, shall for Jesus's sake, be gloriously and eternally Rewarded.

p. 7Some indeed have thought these Words were connected with, and the Truth contained therein, a natural and necessary Consequence from what the Apostle had laid down p. 8in the foregoing Verses: But others suppose them to be the beginning of the following Discourse, wherein he treats of Christians of all Ranks and Orders abiding in their respective Callings, and faithfully discharging the Duties thereof.

This appears to me the Apostles Design; and thus I shall apply and improve the Text.

The Words are very comprehensive, and include all Men, of all Ranks, and of all Denominations; Men of every Station, and every Character, from the highest to the lowest, that have any Gifts of any Kind or Degree, whereby they are capable of usefulness in their Generation; as well him that has but one Talent, as him that hath five or ten. According as GOD hath distributed to him, so he is strongly bound and obliged faithfully to improve his Gifts or Talents, and in that Calling wherein God hath called him. For the Apostle goes on and says, as the Lord hath called every one. That God who gives us differing Gifts, and qualifies us for different Offices, hath called us thereunto, & commended us to abide therein, & faithfully discharge the several Duties thereof. As the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk — Let him abide in the Post wherein God hath fixed him, and there let him act as one that expects to give an Account. Wherefore in treating p. 9upon the Words of the Text thus opened and explained, I shall Observe,

I. That God hath variously distributed his Gifts among Men, and qualified them for a Diversity of Business in the World.

II. As God hath distributed his Gifts unto Men, and qualified them for, so he hath called them to act their Part in different Offices.

III. Shew that it highly concerns every one to abide in his Office or Calling, and faithfully discharge the several Duties of it.

IV. Conclude with an Address to divers Orders of Men, humbly exhorting them faithfully to improve the Gifts which God hath given them in their respective Callings.

p. 9To each of these in their Order.

I. God hath variously distributed his Gifts among Men, and qualified them for a Diversity of Business in the World.

GOD has a great Work to be carried on in the World by Men as Instruments; and hath imparted Gifts to all, that every one may be busily engaged, and afford an helping Hand p. 10according to his Ability, and not a Man to be idle. And as there are various Parts of the same Work to be managed and performed, some of a more difficult Nature, and of greater Importance, and some of less, so he hath proportioned his Gifts accordingly. See Mat. 25.14, 15. For the Kingdom of Heaven is as a Man travelling into a far Country, who called his own Servants, and delivered unto them his Goods: and unto one he gave five Pounds, to another two, and to another one, to every Man according to his several ability; and straightway took his Journey; saying unto them, occupy till I come. Luk. 19.13. Agreeably to this, the Apostle says, Rom. 12.6. Having then Gifts differing according to the Grace that is given us. This was spoken with immediate Regard to the Church, considered as a religious Body. But it is true when applied to the State; & likewise when to the Church and State; considered as a collective Body. Accordingly when we view the whole Body, we see Gifts of a different Kind, and differing in Degree, dispersed abroad among the Children of Men.