THE calling of God is directed vnto that end that we should beléeue the same; and further, 1 2 that we should be saued by the benefit thereof. Séeing therefore that our saluation and faith be those good things, which the calling of God hath respect vnto, this nature they haue, that faith serueth for another end; namelie, for our saluation: two maner of ends indéed, but yet it may séeme to be one, séeing without doubt the one tendeth vnto the other. 3 But the forme of the calling is not alwaies one and the same; for sometimes it is doone onelie by inspiration of the spirit, and sometimes by the words of God outwardlie propounded vnto vs, either by writing, or by word of mouth. And those words of God, whereby we be called, doo consist partlie in promises, and partlie in doctrine; vnto the which also threatenings are otherwhile added. Likewise we knowe, that some haue béeme called by compulsion, 4 as the holie historie in the Acts of the apostles declareth of Paule. We also reade, that this hath sundrie times béene brought to passe by benefits, yea, 5 and the gifts of healing bestowed vpon the apostles séeme to haue an eie vnto that. Sometimes God calleth his children by aduersities; 6 of which waie the children of Israel had verie manie times experience. And it must be remembred, that this calling sometimes is vnderstood as concerning saluation, 7 séeing God dooth therefore call vs vnto him, that we may be saued. There is also a certeine other priuate calling for the taking of some certeine charge in hand, be it of préesthood, kingdome, gouernment of houshold, and other such like. Which two callings be not all one, bicause they may be seuered; for so was Saule called vnto the kingdome, 8 but not vnto saluation; 9 & Iudas, albeit he were ioined to the apostleship, yet was he not partaker of the saluation by Christ.
10 Againe, calling is of two sorts; one is called effectuall, and the other not effectuall: not effectuall, is when some men are thought, by the reason of outward signes and tokens to be called, and to apperteine vnto God, & to the church, and yet in verie déed the successe is not so: and hereof it is spoken in the 20. and 24. chapters of Matthew; 11 Manie be called, but few be chosen. But that is said to be effectuall, which by no meanes wanteth the due end of saluation; of the which Paule speaketh in the eight chapter of his epistle to the Romans, 12 when he saith; All things worke for the best to them which are called according to the purpose of God: for those which he knew before, he also predestinated, to be made conformable to the image of his sonne, that he might be the first borne among manie brethren; whom he predestinated, them also he called; and whom he called, them also he iustified; and whom he iustified, them he also glorified. Thou séest by these words of Paule, that they which be called, are predestinated, and that the verie same shall be glorified. Wherfore an apparant controuersie in the scriptures is decided: for when it is said, that some be called and not chosen, there it is spoken of calling without effect. Againe, when those that be called are said to be iustified, and glorified, there the spéech is of effectuall calling: this effectuall calling Paule nameth according to the purpose. But this purpose of God is referred vnto predestination and foreknowledge.