Positively. The Scriptures always associate all spiritual in- fluence with the truth, and declare the necessity of the preaching the truth to the end of saving souls, Kom. x., 14.
25. What are the objections to the Arminian doctrine of suf- ficient grace ?
They hold that God has willed the salvation of all men, and therefore has called all alike, giving to all a grace sufficient, if they will improve it.
We object, 1st. The external call of the gospel has been ex- tended to comparatively few. The heathen are responsible with the light of nature, and under the law of works, yet they have no means of grace, Eom. i., 18-20 ; ii., 12-15.
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2d. This doctrine is inconsistent with God's purpose of elec- tion.— See above, Chapter X.
3d. According to the Arminian system it depends upon the free will of the man to make the sufficient grace of God common to all men efficient in his case. But the Scriptures declare that salvation is altogether of grace, and a gift of God, Eph. ii.? 8 ; 2 Tim. ii., 25 ; Eom. ix., 15, 16.
4th. The Scriptures expressly declare that not even all who receive the external call have sufficient grace, Horn. ix., 16-24 ; xi.,8.
CHAPTER XXVI.
BE GENERATION.
1. What are the various Scripture terms by which this work of God is designated ?
1st. " Creating anew/' Eph. iv., 24. 2d. " Begetting/' James i., 18. 3d. " Quickening," John v., 21 ; Eph. ii., 5. 4th. " Call- ing out of darkness into marvelous light/' 1 Pet. ii., 9. The subjects of it are said, 1st, to be " alive from the dead/' Kom. vi.? 13. 2d. To be " new creatures/' 2 Cor. v., 17. 3d. To be " born again," John iii., 3, 7. 4th. To be " Grod's workman- ship," Eph. ii., 10.
2. What is the Pelagian view of regeneration ?
They hold that sin can be predicated only of volitions, and that it is essential to the liberty and responsibility of man that he is always as able to cease from as to continue in sin. Regen- eration is therefore a mere reformation of life and habit. The man who has chosen to transgress the law, now chooses to obey it.
3. What is the doctrine of the Bomish church on this subject ?
The Komanists, 1st, confound together justification and sancti- fication, making these one act of God, whereby,for his own glory, for Christ's merits sake, by the efficient powers of the Holy Grhost, and through the instrumentality of baptism, he at once cancels the guilt of our sins, and delivers us from the inherent power and defilement of original sin. — Council of Trent, Sess. VI., Chap. VII.
2d. They hold the doctrine that regeneration is accomplished only through the instrumentality of baptism. This is effectual in every instance of its application to an infant. In the case of adults its virtue may be either resisted and nullified, or received and improved. In baptism (1.) sins are forgiven ; (2.) the moral
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REGENERATION.
nature of the subject is renewed, (3.) lie is made a son and heir of God.— Cat. Bom., Part II., Chap. II.
4. What are the different views as to baptismal regeneration entertained in the Church of England ?
1st. The theory of the party styled Puseyite, which is identical with that of the Komish church.
2d. That of a large party most ably represented by the late Bishop H. U. Underdonk, in his " Essay on Begeneration, Phila., 1835." He maintained that there are two distinct regener- ations ; one a change of state or relation, and the other a change of nature. The first is baptismal, the second moral, though both are spiritual in so far as both are wrought by the Holy Ghost. The first or baptismal regeneration is a new birth, since it con- stitutes us sons of God, as the Jews were made his peculiar peo- ple by that covenant, the seal of which was circumcision. The second is a new birth, or creation in a higher sense, being a grad- ual sanctifying change wrought in the whole moral character by the Holy Ghost, and not necessarily connected with baptism.
5. What view of regeneration ii maintain the " Exercise Scheme V
held by those in America who
These theologians deny the existence in the soul of any per- manent moral habits or dispositions, and admit the existence only of the soul or agent and his acts or " exercises." In the natural man the series of acts are wholly depraved. In the regenerated man a new series of holy acts are created by the Holy Ghost, and con- tinued by his power. — Emmons, Sermon LXI V., on the New Birth.
6. What is the New Haven view, advocated by Dr. N. W. Taylor, on this subject ?