ripture, and their
characteristic is this; to require instant obedience, and next to call
us we know not to what; to call us on in the darkness. Faith alone can
obey them. But it may be urged, How does this concern us now? We were
all called to serve God in infancy, before we could obey or disobey; we
found ourselves called when reason began to dawn; we have been called
to a state of salvation, we have been living as God's servants and
children, all through our time of trial, having been brought into it in
infancy through Holy Baptism, by the act of our parents. Calling is
not a thing future with us, but a thing past.

This is true in a very sufficient sense; and yet it is true also that
the passages of Scripture which I have been quoting do apply to us
still,--do concern us, and may warn and guide us in many important
ways; as a few words will show.

For in truth we are not called once only, but many times; all through
our life Christ is calling us. He called us first in Baptism; but
afterwards also; whether we obey His voice or not, He graciously calls
us still. If we fall from our Baptism, He calls us to repent; if we
are striving to fulfil our calling, He calls us on from grace to grace,
and from holiness to holiness, while life is given us. Abraham was
called from his home, Peter from his nets, Matthew from his office,
Elisha from his farm, Nathanael from his retreat; we are all in course
of calling, on and on, from one thing to another, having no
resting-place, but mounting towards our eternal rest, and obeying one
command only to have another put upon us. He calls us again and again,
in order to justify us again and again,--and again and again, and more
and more, to sanctify and glorify us.

It were well if we understood this; but we are slow to master the great
truth, that Christ is, as it were, walking among us, and by His hand,
or eye, or voice, bidding us follow Him. We do not understand that His
call is a thing which takes place now. We think it took place in the
Apostles' days; but we do not believe in it, we do not look out for it
in our own case. We have not eyes to see the Lord; far different from
the beloved Apostle, who knew Christ even when the rest of the
disciples knew Him not. When He stood on the shore after His
resurrection, and bade them cast the net into the sea, "that disciple
whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord[12]."

Now what I mean is this: that they who are li