Vse. This may serve to exhort us, to apply our selves with feare and reverence unto the meanes of our calling, because Christs divine power is shewed therein.
Doctrine 7. The consideration of the end whereunto we are called in Christ, should build us up in faith, hope, and all those things which pertaine unto life and godlinesse.
Therefore the Apostle here puts us in minde, that he hath called us to glory and vertue; so in the former Epistle, chapter 5. verse 10. who hath called us unto his eternall glory, &c. To that purpose the Apostle Ephesians 1.18. earnestly prayes for the Ephesians, that the eyes of their understanding may be enlightned, to know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches, &c. Now this consideration is of great force for these reasons.
Reason 1. Because it is an argument confirming our faith, whilest we thus thinke with our selves: If God hath called us unto glory, then there is no doubt, but that he will in due time bring us unto glory, and in the meane time keepe us in the way that leadeth thereunto.
2. Because it is an argument whereby we are stirred up to labour for vertue, whilest we thus thinke with our selves: if we are called unto glory and vertue, we must not carry our selves sordidly and basely, defiling our selves with the pollutions of the flesh, like Swine wallowing in the mire, but as it becomes such a calling.
Doctrine 8. There is the same reason of this calling and the first gift of grace, that there is of the multiplying of all grace and peace.
For they are alike free, they do depend alike upon the divine power, they are alwayes knit and linked together: this followes from the connexion of verse 3. with the second.
Vse. This may serve to comfort us, as it is set forth, Philippians 1.6. That he which hath begun a good worke in us, will performe it untill the day of Christ.
Verse 4. Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises, that by these you might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.