The work of the Holy Spirit - pagina 357

REGENERATION AND FAITH

317

astonishing, mysterious, and ineffable not inferior in efficacy to creation or the resurrection from the dead, as the Scripture in;

spired by the Author of this

work declares; so that

all in

whose

marvelous manner are certainly, infallihearts God works and do actually believe. Whereregenerated, effectually bly, and only actuated and influenced by not is renewed thus will upon the in this

God, but in consequence ot this influence becomes itself active. Wherefore, also, man is himself rightly said to believe and repent,

by virtue of that grace received." And also in article 11:" But when God accomplishes His good pleasure in the elect, or works in them true conversion, He not only causes the Gospel to be externally preached to them, and powerfully illuminates their minds by His Holy Spirit, that they may rightly understand and discern the things of the Spirit of God ; but by the efficacy of the same regenerating Spirit, He pervades the inmost recesses of the man ; He opens the

closed and softens the hardened heart, and circumcises that which was uncircumcised infuses new qualities into the will, which, tho ;

heretofore dead, refractory,

He

strengthens

He

quickens; from being

renders

it

that like a

it,

evil,

disobedient, and

good, obedient, and pliable

good

tree

it

may

actuates and

;

bring forth the fruits of

good actions." The Heidelberg Catechism points to this, in question 8 " Except we are regenerated by the Spirit of God." And also :

the Confession, article 22

:

"

We

believe that to attain the true

knowledge of this great mystery, the Holy Spirit kindleth in our hearts an upright faith, which embraces Jesus Christ with all His merits."

"

This mysterious background, which our fathers at Dort called His pervading the inmost recesses of man by the efficacy of the

regenerating Spirit,"

is

evidently the same as what

we

call " the

divine operation which penetrates the center of our being to implant the

germ

And what sal

of the

is

new

life."

this mysterious

working?

testimony based upon Scripture,

Spirit in

man's innermost being. question, whether

Hence the

it is

this regenerating act precedes, ac-

companies, or follows the hearing of the

should be well understood, for

it

According to the univeran operation of the Holy

Word.

And

this question

involves the solution of this seem-

ing disagreement.

We

answer

:

The Holy

Spirit

may perform

this

work in the sinWord. The

ner's heart before, during, or after the preaching of the

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