The work of the Holy Spirit - pagina 435

—

;

BRAKEL AND COMRIE

395

{Bathkol, filia vocis), it is also from beginning to end subject to the Word, obeying and in all things following it. For among the Reformed this is an established rule, that through the operation of the Holy Spirit we first receive a faculty, from which subsequent activities proceed and that this imparted faculty does not work of its own energy except it be wrought upon {acii agimus : being enabled we act) by the Word and the omnipotent power of the Holy Spirit accompanying that Word, in which and by which it enters and penetrates the soul as its instrument and ;

organ, to excite the soul to activity and to flow into that activity. "

Concerning faith

itself it

should be remembered

" First, that nearly all the old

of various mar-

and private confessions

year 1527, have thus understood the imparted faith, as our Heidelberg theologians describe it, in the answer of the twentieth question

tyrs, since the

in general,

and

"Secondly,

in that of the twenty-first

we must

call

more

particularly.

your Christian attention to the acts which flow

Theologians entertain different opinions regardfaith, and which is the proper act of faith. In regard to the number, the celebrated Just a word regarding both. Witzius mentions nine : three preceding, three proper, and three that follow. We do not object every man is free to express himself as he

from the imparted

faith.

ing the number of these acts of

;

Yet we prefer the ancient method which holds that faith consists knowledge, assent, and confidetice. We have no doubt of three things that all that God's Word teaches regarding faith can easily be arranged under each of these three acts. Concerning the proper act of faith, which pleases.

;

is

called the actus fortnalis Ji del,

opinions are held:

Christ;

(3) th.Q

(i)

that

it is

the formal act of faith, the following

i.e.,

the assent

accepting of Christ;

(4)

a.

;

that

(2)

\sih.e

it

coming

to

certain confidence in Christ

The discussions of the theologians on this point are violent, and many tracts are written by the various parties either to establish their own opinions or to refute those of others. " Beloved, we judge that we could let this matter pass without noticing and

it,

lastly, that it is love.

were

it

not for the fact that this definition

in this respect,

who

hold that faith

an

is

act,

may favor

the semi-Pelagians

and

receives

that

it

its

formal

being by an act: 'Forma dat esse rei (the form gives existence to the That no act or matter). And seeing that some begin to deviate, we say acts can give faith its form or being. For this would imply that the imparted faith which the Holy Spirit works in the elect is an unformed '

:

faith,

lacking that which

is

essential to its being.

And

this is absurd,

by this implied actus formalis there is ascribed to us more than to the Holy Spirit yea, a g^eat deal more, inasmuch as the form is more since

'

'

;

excellent than the material.

According

to this supposition

to us only the material of faith, without its

we

give form to that formless faith."

form

;

He

and by our

imparts

act or acts

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