3. This internal efficiency of the Holy Spirit on the minds of men, \ as to the event, is infallible,^ victorious, irresistible, or always effica- cious. But in this assertion we suppose that the measure of the'
• " Quid est, Omnis qui audivit a Patre, et didicit, venit ad me; nisi miUus est qui audiat a Patre, et discat et non veniat ad me ? Si enim omnis qui audivit a Patre et didicit, venit, profecto omnis qui non venit non aiidivit a Patre nee didicit; nam si audisset et didicisset veniret; — hoBC itaquc gratia quce occulte liumanis cordibus divina largitate tribuitur, a nuUo duro cordc respuitur ; ideo quippe tribuitui" ut cordis duritia primitus auferatur." — August, de Praedest. Sanct. lib. i. cap. 8.
318 THE NATUEE, CAUSES, AND MEANS [BOOK III.
efficacy of grace and the end to be attained are fixed by tlie will of God. As to that end whereunto of God it is designed, it is always prevalent or effectual, and cannot be resisted, or it will effectually work what God designs it to work: for wherein he " will work, none shall let him;" and "who hath resisted his will?" There are many motions of grace, even in the hearts of believers, which are thus far resisted, as that they attain not that effect which in their own nature they have a tendency unto. Were it otherwise, all believers would be perfect. But it is manifest in experience that we do not always answer the inclinations of grace, at least as unto the degree which it moves towards. But yet even such motions also, if they are of and from saving grace, are effectual so far, and for all those ends which they are designed unto in the purpose of God; for his will shall not be frustrated in any instance. And where any work of grace is not effectual, God never intended it should be so, nor did put forth that power of grace which was necessary to make it so. Wherefore, in or towards whomsoever the Holy Spirit puts forth his power, or acts his grace for their regeneration, he removes all obstacles, overcomes all oppositions, and infallibly produceth the effect intended.^ This pro- position being of great importance to the glory of God's grace, and most signally opposed by the patrons of corrupted nature and man's free-will in the state thereof, must be both explained and confirmed. We say, therefore, —
(1.) The power which the Holy Ghost puts forth in our regenera- tion is such, in its acting or exercise, as our minds, wills, and affec- tions, are suited to be wrought upon, and to be affected by it, accord- ing to their natures and natural operations: "Turn thou me, and I shall be turned ; draw me, and I shall run after thee." He doth not act in them any otherwise than they themselves are meet to be moved and move, to be acted and act, according to their own na- ture, power, and ability. He draws us with " the cords of a man." And the work itself is exjDressed by persuading, — " God shall per- suade Japheth ; " and alluring, — " I will allure her into the wilder- ness, and speak comfortably unto her:" for as it is certainly effectual, so it carries no more repugnancy unto our faculties than a prevalent persuasion doth. So that, —
(2.) He doth not, in our regeneration, possess the mind with any enthusiastical impressions, nor act absolutely upon us as he did in extraordinary prophetical inspirations of old, where the minds and organs of the bodies of men were merely passive instruments, moved
' " 0 qualis est artifex ille Spiritus! nulla ad discendum mora agitur in omne quod ■voluei'it. Mox enim ut eligeret mentem docet ; solumque tetigisse docuisse est. Nam humanum siibito ut illustrat immutat affectum ; abnegat hoc repente quod erat, exhibet repcnte quod non erat." — Grcgor. Ilom. xxx. in Evangel.
CHAP, v.] OF KEGENERATION". 319
by him above tbeir own natural capacity and activity, not only as to the principle of working, but as to the manner of operation; but he works on the minds of men in and by their own natural act- ings, through an immediate influence and impression of his power: ''Create in me a clean heart, O God." He "worketh both to will and to do."
(3.) He therefore offers no violence or compulsion unto the will.^ This that faculty is not naturally capable to give admission unto. If it be compelled, it is destroyed. And the mention that is made in the Scripture of compelling (" Compel them to come in") respects the certainty of the event, not the manner of the operation on them. But whereas the will, in the depraved condition of fallen nature, is not only habitually filled and possessed with an aversion from that which is good spiritually ("Alienated from the life of God"), but also continually acts an opposition unto it, as being under the power of the "carnal mind," which is "enmity against God ;" and whereas this grace of the Spirit in conversion doth prevail against all this opposi- tion, and is effectual and victorious over it, — it will be inquired hoAV this can any otherwise be done but by a kind of violence and com- pulsion, seeing we have evinced already that moral persuasion and objective allurement is not sufficient thereunto? Ans. It is acknow- ledged that in the work of conversion unto God, though not in the very act of it, there is a reaction between grace and the will, their acts being contrary, and that grace is therein victorious, and yet no violence or compulsion is offered unto the will; for, —