Christian Calling

O Lord God,

The first act of calling is by Your command in Your Word, ‘Come unto me, return unto me;’

The second is to let in light, so that I see that I am called particularly, and perceive the sweetness of the command as well as its truth, in regard to Your great love of the sinner, by inviting Him to come, though vile, in regard to the end of the command, which is fellowship with You, in regard to Your promise in the gospel, which is all of grace.

Therefore, Lord, I need not search to see if I am elect, or loved, for if I turn, You will come to me;

Christ has promised me fellowship if I take him, and the Spirit will pour Himself out on me, abolishing sin and punishment, assuring me of strength to persevere.

It is Your pleasure to help all that pray for grace, and come to You for it.

When my heart is unsavory with sin, sorrow, darkness, hell, only Your free grace can help me act with deep abasement under a sense of unworthiness.

Let me lament for forgetting daily to come to You, and cleanse me from the deceit of bringing my heart to a duty because the act pleased me or appealed to reason.

Grant that I may be salted with suffering, with every exactment tempered to my soul, every rod excellently fitted to my back, to chastise, humble, break me.

Let me not overlook the hand that holds the rod, as You did not let me forget the rod that fell on Christ, and drew me to him.