The Holy Ghost is the immediate author and cause of this work of regeneration. And herein again, as I supjDose, we have in general the consent of all. Nothing is more in words acknowledged than that all the elect of God are sanctified by the Holy Ghost. And this regeneration is the head, fountain, or beginning of our sanctifi- cation, virtually comprising the whole in itself, as will afterward ap- pear. However, that it is a part thereof is not to be denied. Besides, as I suppose, it is equally confessed to be an effect or work of grace, the actual dispensation whereof is solely in the hand of the Holy Spirit. This, I say, is in words acknowledged by all, although I know not how some can reconcile this profession unto other notious and sentiments which they declare concerning it; for setting aside what men do herein themselves, and others do towards them in the
SOO THE NATURE, CAUSES, AND MEANS [bOOK III.
ministry of the word, I cannot see what remains, as they express their loose imaginations, to be ascribed unto the Spirit of God. But at present we shall make use of this general concession, that regene- ration is the work of the Holy Ghost, or an effect of his grace. Not that we have any need so to do, but that we may avoid contesting about those things wherein men may shroud their false opinions under general, ambiguous expressions; which was the constant prac- tice of Pelagius and those who followed him of old. But the Scripture is express in testimonies to our purpose. What our Saviour calls being " born again," John iii. 3, he calls being " born of the Spirit," verses 5, 6, because he is the sole, principal, efficient cause of this new birth ; for " it is the Spirit that quickeneth," John vi. 63 ; Bom. viii. 11. And God saveth us "according to his mercy, by the wash- ing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost," Tit. iii. 5. Whereas, therefore, we are said to be " born of God," or to be " be- gotten again of his own Avill," John i. 13, James i. 18, 1 John iii. 9, it is with respect unto the especial and peculiar operation of the Holy Spirit.
These things are thus far confessed, even by the Pelagians them- selves, both those of old and those at present, at least in general; nor hath any as yet been so hardy as to deny regeneration to be the work of the Holy Spirit in us, unless we must except those deluded souls who deny both him and his work. Our sole inquiry, therefore, must be after the manner and nature of this work; for the nature of it depends on the manner of the working of the Spirit of God herein. This, I acknowledge, was variously contended about of old ; and the truth concerning it hath scarce escaped an open opposition in any age of the church. And at present this is the great ball of contention between the Jesuits and the Jansenists; the latter keep- ing close to the doctrine of the principal ancient writers of the church; the former, under new notions, expressions, and distinctions, endea- vouring the re-enforcement of Pelagianism, whereunto some of the elder schoolmen led the way, of whom our Bradwardine so long ago complained. But never was it with so much impudence and igno- rance traduced and reviled as it is by some among ourselves; for a sort of men we have who, by stories of wandering Jews, rhetorical declamations, pert cavillings, and proud revilings of those who dissent from them, think to scorn and banish truth out of the world, though they never yet durst attempt to deal openly and plainly with any one argument that is pleaded in its defence and confirmation.
The ancient writers of the church, who looked into these things with most diligence, and laboured in them with most success, as Austin, Hilary, Prosper, and Fulgentius, do represent the whole work of the Spirit of God towards the souls of men under certain heads or
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distinctions of grace; and herein were tliey followed by many of the more sober schoolmen, and others of late without number. Fre- quent mention we find in them of grace, as " preparing, preventing, working, co-working, and confirming." Under these heads do they handle the whole work of our regeneration or conversion unto God. And although there may be some alteration in method and ways of expression, — which may be varied as they are found to be of advantage unto them that are to be instructed, — yet, for the substance of the doctrine, they taught the same which hath been preached amongst us since the Reformation, which some have iguorantly traduced as novel. And the whole of it is nobly and elegantly exemplified by Austin in his Confessions ; wherein he gives us the experience of the truth he had taught in his own soul. And I might follow their footsteps herein, and perhaps should for some reasons have chosen so to have done, but that there have been so many differences raised about the explication and application of these terms and distinctions, and the declaration of the nature of the acts and effects of the Spirit of grace intended in them, as that to carry the truth through the intricate perplexities which under these notions have been cast upon it, would be a longer work than I shall here engage into, and too much divert me from my principal intention. I shall, therefore, in general, refer the whole work of the Spirit of God with respect unto the regenera- tion of sinners unto two heads: — First, That which is preparatory for it; and, secondly. That which is effective of it. That which is preparatory for it is the conviction of sin; this is the work of the Holy Spirit, John xvi. 8. And this also may be distinctly referred unto three heads: — 1. A discovery of the true nature of sin by the ministry of the law, Rom. vii. 7. 2. An application of that dis- covery made in the mind or understanding unto the conscience of the sinner. 8. The excitation of affections suitable unto that dis- covery and application. Acts ii. 37. But these things, so far as they belong unto our present design, have been before insisted on. Our principal inquiry at present is after the work itself, or the nature and manner of the working of the Spirit of God in and on the souls of men in their regeneration ; and this must be both negatively and positively declared: —