The work of the Holy Spirit - pagina 341

:

:

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COURSE

ITS

Hence we recognize among the

301

rising generation in the

Church

whom

the im-

four classes 1.

All elect persons regenerated before Baptism, in

planted life remains hidden until they are converted at a later age. 2. Elect persons, not only regenerated in infancy, but in whom the implanted life

was early manifested and ripened imperceptibly

into conversion. 3.

Elect persons

4.

The

bom

again;

and converted in

Examining each

we

tory grace,

of these four, with special reference to prepara-

arrive at the following conclusions

Regarding the elect of the

first class,

the case preparatory grace has scarcely In

sense.

later life.

non-elect, or the chaff.

its direct

born or new-born

God

form,

child.

it is

from the very nature of

room

here, in its limited

unthinkable with reference to an un-

In such

it is

only indirect

i.e.,

frequently

whose persons and natures practise a form of sin less outspoken in its war upon grace than other forms of sin. Not as tho such parents had anything from which the child could be grafted, for that which is born of the flesh nothing clean from the unclean it is always the wild vine is flesh waiting for the grafting of the Lord. Nay, the preparatory grace in this case appears from the fact that the child receives from its parents a form of life adapted to its heavenly calling. The same applies to the elect of the second class. Altho we concede that the divine call works upon such during their tender years, it

pleases

to give such child parents

;

;

yet,

while

it

prepares for conversion,

it

does not prepare for regen-

which it follows. The call is ineffectual unless the faculty of hearing be first implanted. Only he that has an ear can hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches and to his own soul. Hence, in this case, preparatory grace is scarcely perceptible. eration,

Surely there are conversion

;

many

but this

agencies that imperceptibly prepare for his

is different

and we speak now only

from a preparing for regeneration,

of the latter.

Properly speaking, preparatory grace in plied only to the third class of elect persons.

whole

life

with

all its

could produce the slightest germ of

No

;

the

germ of

It

limited sense is ap-

comprehends

their

turns and changes, relations and connections,

heights and depths, events and adversities. ing.

its

life

life

Not

as tho all these

or possibility of quicken-

can never spring from preparatory grace,

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