That ye would walk worthy of God
In imitation of him; not of his perfections, which are
inimitable, but of his works; and these not of his power and
wisdom, but those of kindness and beneficence, and of
righteousness and holiness; and in conformity to his revealed
will, which is good, perfect, and acceptable; and agreeably to
his Gospel, that that may be adorned, and not blasphemed; and
particularly, in a manner worthy of the calling wherewith saints
are called by him: since it follows,
who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory;
which instance of the grace of God carries in it many arguments,
and lays many obligations on the persons interested in it, to
walk in their lives and conversations worthy of God; which may be
taken from the nature of this call, which is not a mere external
one by the outward ministry of the word, but an internal and
effectual one, by the powerful and efficacious grace of God; it
is a call of persons out of darkness into light, and therefore it
becomes them to walk as children of the light, and honestly, as
in the daytime; and from a state of bondage to sin and Satan,
unto liberty, and therefore ought not to walk after the dictates
of corrupt nature, nor the suggestions of Satan, but after the
Spirit of God, who is a spirit of liberty; and from fellowship
with the world, and the men of it, to communion with Christ, and
therefore should not walk as other Gentiles do, nor run with them
in the same excess of riot; in short, such are called with an
holy calling, and to holiness, and have in their effectual
calling principles of holiness implanted in them, and therefore
should be holy in all manner of conversation: moreover, arguments
may be taken from the consideration of him that calls, God, who
is a holy Being, and therefore as he that hath called them is
holy, so should they be likewise; he is the God of all grace that
has called them, and he has called them by his grace, and to
special blessings of grace, and that according to his sovereign
will and pleasure; and has called them the most unworthy, base,
mean, and despicable, and not others, which greatly enhances the
obligation to walk worthy of him: to which add, that he that
calls is God that dwells on high in heaven, and changes not, and
such is his call; hence it is styled the high calling of God, and
the heavenly calling, and said to be without repentance; and
therefore the saints should live and walk as pilgrims and
strangers here, and be steadfast and immovable, always abounding
in the work of the Lord: likewise the consideration of what they
are called to should engage them to a becoming walk, being called
"to his kingdom"; to the kingdom of grace, which lies in
righteousness and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost, and which
cannot be moved, and where they are kings and priests unto God;
and unto a Gospel church state, and to all the privileges and
immunities of it; and unto the kingdom of heaven, prepared by God
for them from the foundation of the world, their Father's free
gift to them, of which they are born heirs apparent in
regeneration, and have both a meetness for it, and a right unto
it; and therefore ought to behave suitable to this high honour
and dignity which belong unto them: and this latter sense is the
rather to be chose, since it follows, "and glory": or "to his
glory", as the Syriac, Arabic, and Ethiopic versions read; to the
glory of God, to the beholding of the glory of God through
Christ, and the glory of Christ himself; and to a participation
of that glory which God has provided, and is in the hands of
Christ for them, where it is hid, who when he shall appear, they
will appear with him in glory; which will be both upon their
souls and bodies; and this will be an eternal glory, a glory that
fades not away, and not like the glory of this world, which is
transient, and soon passes away, but this will abide for ever;
and therefore since the saints are called to the obtaining of
this, it is a reason why their conversation should be in heaven
now, and as becomes God and his Gospel.