2. Herein God deals with men as reasonable creatures; which is by no means to be excluded from our ideas of the work of grace; though this work contain in it some superior, or supernatural methods of acting, in order to bring it about; yet we may be under a divine influence, as turning to God, or effectually called by him, and accordingly acted by a supernatural principle; and at the same time our understandings, or reasoning powers, not rendered useless, but enlightened or improved thereby; by which means, every thing that we do, in obedience to the call of God, appears to be most just and reasonable. This gives no ground for any one to conclude, that, according to our method of explaining this doctrine, we lay ourselves open to the absurd consequence fastened upon it; as though God dealt with us as stocks and stones: but more of this may be considered under a following head. We now proceed, more particularly, to consider the subject-matter of these two answers; wherein we have an account of the difference between the _external_ call of the gospel, which is explained in the latter of them, and the _internal_, saving, and powerful call, which is justly termed _effectual_; and is considered in the former of them. And, _First_, Concerning the outward and common call, together with the persons to whom it is given; the design of God in giving it, and also the issue thereof, with respect to a great number of those who are said to be called. The reason why we choose to insist on this common call, in the first place, is because it is antecedent, and made subservient to the other in the method of the divine dispensation; inasmuch as we are first favoured with the word and ordinances, and then they are made effectual to salvation. 1. Therefore we shall consider what we are to understand by this common call.