The work of the Holy Spirit - pagina 379

THE CALLING OF THE REGENERATE where the men

divide,

of the purified, that

is,

the

339

Reformed Con-

with their opponents.

company Having stated this fact forcibly and

fession, part

importance to

definitely, it is of the

state with equal emphasis

that, in all the

utmost

subsequent

operations of grace (so-called second grace), this absolute passivity Hence in first grace. is made to cease by the wonderful act of the

subsequent grace the sinner to some extent cooperates. But the In the first grace the sinner is absolutely like a corpse. not be must cooperation subsequent sinner's first passivity and his can which Scripture, the after confounded. There is a passivity,

all

also not be exaggerated, which must be left intact but there is The sinful. and anti-Scriptural, a passivity which is pretended, partially difference between the two is not that the former is whatever. cooperation any without latter the and cooperating, ;

are Surely by such temporizing the churches and the souls in them bedifference the No; enthusiasm. and energy with not inspired the that herein, consists passivity sickly the and sound the

tween

former, which to

which

where

it is

is

absolute and unlimited, belongs to fhQ first grace,

indispensable; while the latter clings to the second grace,

it does

not belong.

Let there be clear insight into this truth, which is after all very nothing, and simple. The elect but unregenerate sinner can do by another. wrought be must him in wrought be to that is the work he is no accomplished is this after But grace. first the This is in the which him into brought was something for passive, longer God. with cooperate will grace of work second not implied that the elect and regenerate sinner is now without God; or that if God should cease workanything do able to and sanctification would follow of themconversion him, in ing are thoroughly untrue, un-Rerepresentations these Both selves. of the formed, and unchristian, because they detract from the work

But

it is

Holy Spirit in the elect. No all spiritual good is of grace to the end grace not only in regeneration, but at every step of the way From the beginning to the end and throughout eternity of life. ;

:

is the Worker, of regeneration and conversion, of and every part of sanctification, of glorification, and of the bliss of the redeemed. Nothing may be subtracted from

the Holy Spirit justification all

this.

But while the Holy Spirit

is

the only

Worker in the

first

grace,

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