It is addressed to the non-elect equally with the elect, because it is equally their duty and interest to accept the gospel, because the provisions of salvation are equally suited to their case, and abundantly sufficient for all, and because G-od intends that its benefits shall actually accrue to every one who accepts it.
5. Hoio can it be proved that there is an internal spiritual call distinct from an external one $
1st. From those passages which distinguish the Spirit's influ- ence from that of the word, John vi., 45, 64, 65 ; 1 Thes. i., 5, 6. 2d. Those passages which teach that the Spirit's influence is necessary to the reception of the truth, Eph. i., 17. 3d. Those that refer all good in man to God, Phil, ii., 13 ; Eph. ii., 8 ; 2
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Tim., ii., 25, e. g.} faith and repentance. 4th. The Scripture distinguishes between the two calls ; of the subjects of the one it is said "many are called and few are chosen/' of the subjects of the other it is said, " whom he called them he also justified." Of the one he says, " Because I have called, and ye have refused," Prov. i., 24. Of the other he says, " Every man therefore who hath heard and hath learned of the Father cometh unto me," John vi., 45. 5th. There is an absolute necessity for such an internal, spiritual call, man by nature is "blind" and "dead" in tres- passes and sins, 1 Cor. ii., 14 ; 2 Cor. iv., 4 ; Eph. ii., 1.
6. What is the Pelagian view of the internal call f
Pelagians deny original sin, and maintain that right and wrong are qualities attaching only to executive acts of the will. They therefore assert, 1st. The full ability of the free will of man as much to cease from sin at any time as to continue in its prac- tice. 2d. That the Holy Spirit produces no inward change in the heart of the subject, except as he is the author of the Scriptures, and as the Scriptures present moral truths and motives, which of their own nature exert a moral influence upon the soul.
7. What is the Semi-Pelagian view f
These maintain that grace is necessary to enable a man suc- cessfully to return unto God and live. Yet that from the very nature of the human will man must first of himself desire to be free from sin, and to choose God as his chief good, when he may expect God's aid in carrying his desires into effect.
8. What is the Arminian view f
The Arminians admit the doctrine of man's total depravity, and that in consequence thereof man is utterly unable to do any- thing aright in the unaided exercise of his natural faculties. Nevertheless, as Christ died equally for every man, sufficient grace, enabling its subject to do all that is required of him, is granted to all. Which sufficient grace becomes efficient only when it is co- operated with and improved by the sinner. — Apol. Conf. Ee- monstr., p. 162, b.; Limborch, Theo. Christ., 4, 12, 8.
336 EFFECTUAL CALLING.
9. What is the doctrine on this subject taught by the symbols of the Lutheran Church ?
The Lutherans agree entirely with the Calvinistic view on the point of efficacious grace, although they are logically inconsistent in denying the doctrine of election. — Additions to Luther's Small Catechism, III. Order of Salvation, questions 74-88.
10. What is the Synergistic view of this point ?
At the call of Maurice, the new elector of Saxony, the divines of Wittemhurg and Leipsic assembled at Leipsic, A. D. 1548, in conference, and on that occasion the Synergistic controversy arose. The term signifies cooperation. The Synergists were Lutheran theologians, who departed from their own system on this one sub- ject, and adopted the position of the Arminians. Melanch- thon used these words at that conference : " God so draws and converts adults that some agency of their will accompanies his influences/'
11. What is the common doctrine of the Reformed Churches as to the internal call f
That it is an exercise of divine power upon the soul, imme- diate, spiritual, and supernatural, communicating a new spiritual life, and thus making a new mode of spiritual activity possible. That repentance, faith, trust, hope, love, etc., are purely and simply the sinner's own acts ; but as such are possible to him only in virtue of the change wrought in the moral condition of his faculties by the recreative power of Grod. — See Conf. of Faith, Chap. X., Sections 1 and 2.
12. What diversity of opinion prevails among the Romanists upon this subject f
The disciples of Augustin in that church, of whom the Jan- senists were the most prominent, are orthodox, but these have been almost universally overthrown, and supplanted by their ene- mies the Jesuits, who are Semi-Pelagians. The Council of Trent attempted to satify both parties. — Council of Trent, Sess. 6, Can. 3 and 4. The doctrines of Quesnel, who advocated the truth on this subject, were condemned in the Bull " Unigenitus," A. D.
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