The work of the Holy Spirit - pagina 380

;

CALLING AND REPENTANCE

340 in all

subsequent operations of grace the regenerate always coope-

rates with

Him,

Hence

it is

not true, as some say, that the regen-

erate is just as passive as the unregenerate

the

work

of the

Holy

;

this only detracts

Spirit in the frst grace.

Neither

is it

from true

that henceforth the regenerate is the principal worker, only assisted

by the Holy Spirit; for work in the second grace.

this is eqtially

derogatory to the Spirit's

Both these errors should be opposed and rejected. For altho, on the one hand, it is said that the regenerate, considered out of Christ, still lies in the midst of death yet, tho he be considered a thousand times out of Christ, he remains in Him, for once in His hand no one can pluck him out of it. And altho, on the other hand, the regenerate is constantly admonished to be active and ;

diligent, yet. tho the horse does the pulling,

it is

not the horse but

the driver ^cho drives the carriage.

we

Reserving this last point until

now

consider sanctification,

we

consider the calling, for this sheds more light upon the confes-

sion of the Reformed churches concerning the second grace than any other part of the work of grace.

After the elect sinner

is

born again,

i.e.,

quickened, endowed

and united with Jesus, the next work of grace in him is calling, of which Scripture speaks with such empha" But as He which has called you is holy, so be ye sis and so often. holy in all manner of conversation " " Who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light"; "The God of all grace who hath called us unto His eternal glory " " Whereunto He called you by our Gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ;" "Who hath called you unto His Kingdom and Glory'; " I beseech you to walk worthy of the calling wherewith ye were " Give diligence to make your called " and not to mention more calling and election sure; for if ye do these things ye shall never with the faculty of

faith,

;

;

;

:

fall."

In the

Sacred Scripture calling has, like regeneration, a wider

sense and a more limited. In the former sense, it means to be called to the eternal glory hence this includes all that precedes, i.e., calling to repentance, to faith, to sanctification, to the performance of duty, to glory, to the eternal kingdom, etc. Of this, however, we do not speak now. It is now our intention to consider the calling in its limited sense, which signifies exclu«

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