The work of the Holy Spirit - pagina 390

CALLING AND REPENTANCE

350

This fact should be carefully considered.

When

Scripture pre-

sents conversion as the Spirit's act but six times, and as man's act one

hundred and forty times, in preaching the same proportion should be observed. And, therefore, the preachers who, when preaching on conversion, treat it almost invariably in its passive aspect and in the abstract; who apparently lack the courage and boldness to declare to their hearers that it is their duty to convert themselves unto God, seriously err. It has a very pious look, but it is against the Scripture. And yet it is perfectly natural that one should hesitate to say, " You must convert yourself" so long as regeneration and conversion are still confounded. For then the declaration, " You must convert yourself," ignores the sovereignty of God, and implies that a dead sinner is still able to do something of himself.

And

this is the reason

why

the sovereignty of God, and

the preachers

who

who

will not surrender

will not deduct anything

deadness of the sinner, are afraid "to speak

from the Hence

deaf ears."

to

they /ray for the conversion of the hearers, but dare not in the

Name of the Lord demand \t of them. And nothing may be deducted either from

the divine sovereign-

Every demand for conversion which has such tendency is Pelagianism, and must be rejected. But if the teaching of the Reformed Church in this respect be thoroughly understood, the whole difficulty disappears. ty or from the sinner's deadness.

It

should be noticed, however, that Scripture, speaking of con-

imply that it is saving conversion. The always accompanied on its way by a phantom. Alongside of saving faith goes temporal faith alongside of the effectual call, the ordinary call and alongside of saving converversion, does not always

real

work

of salvation

is

;

;

sion, ordinary conversion.

Conversion in

and

its

this act can

saving sense occurs but once in a man's

never be repeated.

life,

Once having passed from

and will never return unto death. Perspanned by many bridges nor does the saint, tossed between endless hopes and fears, cross the bridge leading to life, by and by to return by another to the shores of death. No; there is but one bridge, which can be crossed but once and he that has crossed it is kept by the power of God from going back. Tho all powers should combine to draw him back, God is stronger than all, and no one shall pluck him out of His hand. We state this as distinctly and forcibly as possible, for at this death unto

life,

he

is

dition is not a stream

alive

;

;

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