The work of the Holy Spirit - pagina 358

:

REGENERATION

3i8

inward call may be associated with the outward call, or it may follow it. But that which precedes the inward call, viz., the opening of the deaf ear, so that it may be heard, is not dependent upon the preaching of the Word; and therefore

may precede

Correct discrimination in this respect

is

the preaching.

of greatest

impor-

tance.

designate the whole conscious work of grace from conversion

If I

until death, "regeneration," without

background, then

I

may and

7imst

any regard

to its mysterious

say with the Confession (article

That this faith, being wrought in man by the hearing of the Word, and the operation of the Holy Spirit, doth regenerate him and make him a new man." But if I distinguish in this work of grace, according to the claims of the sacraments, between the origin of the new life, for which God gave us the sacrament of holy Baptism, and its support, for which God gave the sacrament of the holy Supper, then regeneration ceases immediately after man is born again, and that which 24)

"

:

follows

is

And

called

"

sanctification."

discriminating again between that which the Holy Spirit

wrought

in us consciously

and

unconsciously, then regeneration desig-

nates that which was wrought in us unconsciously, while conversion

is

the term

we apply

to the

awakening of

this

implanted

life

in our consciousness.

Hence God's work

of grace runs through these three successive

stages I

new

St.

Regeneration in its Jirst stage, when the Lord plants the the dead heart. Regeneration in its second stage, when the new-born man

life in

2d.

comes 3d.

to conversion.

Regeneration in

its lAird stage,

when conversion merges into

sanctification.

God performs a wonderful and mysterious From God proceed quickening, conin each God is the Worker: only and and sanctification,

In each of these three

work

in man's inward being.

version,

with this difference, that in the quickening He works alone, finding and leaving man inactive ; that in conversion "Re finds us inactive, but makes us active; that in sanctification

a manner that we work Describing

it still

ourselves

more

He works

in us in

such

through Him.

we say that in the first stage of God works ivithout means ; in the

closely,

regeneration, that of quickening,

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