Having thus evidenced wherein the work of the Holy Spirit in the regeneration of the souls of men doth not consist, — namely, in , a supposed congruous persuasion of their minds, where it is alone, — ^\^
Secondly, I shall proceed to show wherein it doth consist, and what is the true nature of it. And to this purpose I say, —
1. Whatever efficacy that moral operation which accompanies, or
' " Ploremus coram Domino qui fecit nos et homiues et salvos. Nam si ille nos fecit homines, nos autem ipsi nos fecimus salvos, aliquid illo melius fecimus; melior est enim salvus homo quam quilibet homo. Si ergo te Deus fecit hominem, et tu te fe- cisti bonum hominem, quod tu fecisti melius est." — August, de Verb. Apost. Serm. x.
" Natura humaua, etiarasi in ilia iutegritate in qua est coudita, permanet, nullo modo seipsam, creatore sua non adjuvante, servaret. Unde cum sine Dei gratia sa- lutcm non posset custodire quam accepit, quomodo sine Dei gratia potest recuperare quam ]^)crdidit ?" — Prosp. Seutent. 308.
316 THE NATUEE, CAUSES, AND MEANS [BOOK III.
is the effect of, the preaching of the word, as blessed and used by the Holy Spirit, is of, or may be supposed to be of, or is possible that it should be of, in and towards them that are unregenerate, we do willingly ascribe unto it. We grant that in the work of regeneration, the Holy Spirit, towards those that are adult, doth make use of the word, both the law and the gospel, and the ministry of the church in the dispensation of it, as the ordinary means thereof ; yea, this is ordinarily the whole external means that is made use of in this work, and an efficacy proper unto it it is accompanied withal. Whereas, therefore, some contend that there is no more needful to the con- version of sinners but the preaching of the word unto them who are congruously disposed to receive it, and that the whole of the grace of God consists in the effectual application of it unto the minds and affections of men, whereby they are enabled to comply with it, and turn unto God by faith and repentance, they do not ascribe a greater power unto the word than we do, by whom this administra- tion of it is denied to be the total cause of conversion ; for we assign the same power to the word as they do, and more also, only we affirm that there is an effect to be wrought in this work which all this power, if alone, is insufficient for. But in its own kind it is sufficient and effectual, so far as that the effect of regeneration or conversion unto God is ascribed thereunto. This we have declared before.
] 2. There is not only a moral but a physical immediate operation of the Spirit, by his power and grace, or his powerful grace, upon the minds or souls of men in their regeneration.^ This is that which we must cleave to, or all the glory of God's grace is lost, and the grace administered by Christ neglected. So is it asserted, Eph. i. 18-20,
' " At vero omnipotens hominem cum gratia sal vat,
Ipsa suuni cousummat opus, cui tempus agendi
Semper adest qu^ gesta velit : non moribus illi
Fit mora, non causis anceps suspenditur uUis.
Nee quod sola potest cura ofiBicioque ministri
Exequitur, famulisve vicem committit agendi.
Qui quamvis multa admoveat mandata vocantis,
Pulsant non intrant animas ; Deus ergo sepultos
Suscitat et solvit peccati compedc vinctos.
nie obscuratis dat cordibus inteUectum :
lUe ex injustis justos facit, indit amorem
Quo redametur amans, et amor quern consent, ipse est.
Hunc itaque affectum quo sumunt mortua vitam.
Quo tenebrse fiunt lumen, quo immunda nitescunt ;
Quo stulti sapere incipiunt segrique valescunt
Nemo alii dat, nemo sibi."
Prosp. de Ingrat. cap. xv. 384-398. " Legant ergo et intelligant, intueantur atque fatcantur, non lege atque doctrina in- sonante forinsecus, sed interna atque occulta, mirabili atque ineffabili potestate operari Deum in cordibus hominum non solum vcras revelationes, sed bouas etiam voluntates." — August. Lib. de Grat. Christ, adv. Pclagium ct Cselest., cap. xxiv.
CHAP, v.] OF REGENERATION. SI 7
" That ye may know what is the exceeding greatness of his power to US-ward who beUeve, according to the working of his mighty powei", which he wrought in Clirist when he raised him from the dead." The power here mentioned hath an "exceeding greatness" ascribed unto it, with respect unto the effect produced by it. The power of God in itself is, as unto all acts, equally infinite, — he is omnipotent; but some effects are greater than others, and carry in them more than ordinary impressions of it. Such is that here in- tended, whereby God makes men to be believers, and preserves them when they are so. And unto this power of God there is an actual operation or efficiency ascribed, — the "working of his mighty power." And the nature of this operation or efficiency is declared to be of the same kind with that which was exerted in the raising of Christ from the dead; and this was by a real physical efficiency of divine power. This, therefore, is here testified, that the work of God towards believers, either to make them so or preserve them such, — for all is one as unto our present purpose, — consists in the acting of his divine power by a real internal efficiency. So God is said to " fulfil in us all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power," 2 Thess. i. 1 1 ; 2 Pet. i. 3. And hence the work of grace in conversion is constantly expressed by words denoting a real internal efficiency; such as creating, quickening, forming, giv- ing a new heart, whereof afterward. Wherever this word is spoken with respect unto an active efficiency, it is ascribed unto God; he creates us anew, he quickens us, he begets us of his own will. But where it is spoken with respect unto us, there it is passively ex- pressed ; we are created in Christ Jesus, we are new creatures, we are horn again, and the like; which one observation is sufficient to evert the whole hypothesis of Ai'minian grace. Unless a work wrought by power, and that real and immediate, be intended herein, such a work may neither be supposed possible, nor can be expressed. Wherefore, it is jolain in the Scripture that the Spirit of God works internally, immediately, efficiently, in and upon the minds of men in their regeneration. The new birth is the effect of an act of his power and grace; or, no man is bom again but it is by the inward efficiency of the Spirit.