1713. Bellarmine taught that the same grace is given to every man, which, by the event only, is proved practically congruous to the nature of one man, and therefore in his case efficacious, and incongruous to the nature of another, and therefore in his case ineffectual.
13. What is meant by " common grace" and how may it be shown that the Spirit does operate upon the minds of those who are not renewed in heart f
" Common grace" is the restraining and persuading influences of the Holy Spirit acting only through the truth revealed in the gospel, or through the natural light of reason and of conscience, heightening the natural moral effect of such truth upon the un- derstanding, conscience, and heart. It involves no change of heart, hut simply an enhancement of the natural powers of the truth, a restraint of the evil passions, and an increase of the natural emotions in view of sin, duty, and self-interest.
That God does so operate upon the hearts of the unregenerate is proved, 1st, from Scripture, Gren. vi, 3 ; Acts vii., 51 ; Heb. x., 29 ; 2d, from universal experience and observation.
14. Hoio does common differ from efficacious grace ?
1st. As to its subjects. All men are more or less the subjects of the one ; only the elect are subjects of the other, Kom. viii., 30; xi., 7 ; 2 Thes. h\, 13.
2d. As to its nature. Common grace is only mediate, through the truth, and it is merely moral, heightening the moral influence natural to the truth, and exciting only the natural powers of the soul, both rational and moral. But efficacious grace is im- mediate and supernatural, since it is wrought directly in the soul by the immediate energy of the Holy Grhost, and since it implants a new spiritual life, and a capacity for a new mode of exercising the natural faculties.
3d. As to its effects. The effects of common grace are super- ficial and transient, modifying the action, but not changing the nature, and its influence is always more or less consciously re- sisted, as opposed to the prevailing dispositions of the soul. But efficacious grace, since it acts not upon but in the will itself, changing the governing desires, and giving a new direction to the
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active powers of the soul, is neither resistible nor irresistible, but most free, spontaneous, and yet most certainly effectual.
15. How can it be proved that this efficacious grace is con- fined to the elect t
1st. The Scriptures represent the elect as the called, and the called as the elect, Kom. viii., 28, 30 ; Kev. xvii., 14. 2d. This effectual calling is said to be based upon the decree of election, 2 Thes. ii., 13, 14 ; 2 Tim. i., 9, 10. 3d. Sanctification, justifica- tion, and all the temporal and eternal benefits of union with Christ are declared to be the effects of effectual calling, 1 Cor. i., 2 ; Eph. ii., 5 ; Kom. viii., 30.
16. Prove that it is given on account of Christ.
1st. All spiritual blessings are given on account of Christ, Eph. i., 3 ; Titus iii., 5, 6. 2d. The Scriptures specifically de- clare that we are called in Christ, Rom. viii., 2 ; Eph. ii., 4-6 ; 2 Tim. i., 9.
17. What is meant by saying that this divine influence is im- mediate and supernatural ?
It is meant, 1st, to deny, (1.) that it consists simply in the moral influence of the truth ; (2. ) that it consists simply in the moral influence of the Spirit, heightening the moral influence of the truth as objectively presented ; (3.) that it excites the mere natural powers of the soul. It is meant, 2d, to affirm, (1.) that the Holy Spirit acts immediately upon the soul from within ; (2.) that the Holy Spirit, by an exercise of recreative power, im- plants a new moral nature or principle of action.
18. What arguments go to show that there is an immediate influence of the Spirit on the soul, besides that which is exerted through the truth ?
1st. The influence of the Spirit is distinguished from that of the word, John vi., 45, 64, 65 ; Rom. xv., 13 ; 1 Cor. ii. 12-15 ; 1 Thess. L, 5, 6.
2d. A divine influence is declared to be necessary to the recep- tion of the truth, Ps. cxix., 18 ; Acts xvi., 14 ; Eph. i., 17.
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3d. Such an internal operation on the heart is attributed to God, Phil, ii., 13 ; 2 Thess. i., 11 ; Heb. xiii., 21.
4th. The gift of the Spirit is distinguished from the gift of the word, John xiv., 16 ; 1 Cor. iii., 16 ; vi., 19 ; Eph. iv., 30.
5th. The nature of this influence is evidently different from that effected by the truth, Eph. i., 19 ; iii., 7. And the effect is called a "new creation/' "new birth/' etc., etc.
6th. Man by nature is dead in sin, and needs such a direct intervention of supernatural power. — Turettin, Theo. Instits., L. XV., Quaestio 4.
19. What are the different reasons assigned for calling this grace efficacious ?