OF REG as any can imagine, it shall be granted. Only 1 shall take leave to resolve the efficacy of preaching into two other causes, Sect. 15. -1. The institution of God: he hath ap- pointed the preaching of the word to be the means, the only outward ordinary means for the conversion of the souls of men, 1 Cor. i. 17, 18, 19, 20. Mark xvi. 15, 16. Rom. i. 16. And the power or efficacy of any thing that is used unto an end in spiritual matters, depends solely on its divine appointment unto that end. Sect. 16. -2. The especial gifts that the Spirit of God doth furnish the preachers of the gospel withal, to . enable them unto an effectual discharge of their work, Ephes. iv. 11, 12, 13. whereof weshall treatafterwards. All the power therefore that these things are accom- panied withal, is resolved into the sovereignty of God. For he bath chosen this way of preaching for this end, and he bestows these gifts on whom he pleaseth. From these things it is that the persuasive motives which the word abounds withal unto conversion or turning to God from sin, have that peculiar efficacy on the minds of men which is proper unto them. Sect. 17. -3. We do not therefore in this case sup- pose that the motives of the word are left unto a mere natural operation, with respect unto the ability of them by-whom it is dispensed; but moreover that it is blessed of God, and accompanied with the power of the Holy Spirit, for the producing of its effect andend upon the souls of men. Only the operation of the Holy Ghost, on the minds and wills of men in and by these means, is supposed to extend no further, but unto motives, ar- guments, reasons and considerations, proposed unto the mind, so to influencethe will and theaffections. Hence his operation is herein moral, and so metaphorical, not real, proper, and physical. :.Now concerning this whole work, I affirm these two things: Sect. 18. -1. That the Holy Spirit doth make use of it in the regeneration or conversion of all that are adult, and that either immediatelyin and by the preach- ing of it, or by some other application of light and truth unto the mind derived from the word; for by the rea- sons, motives, and persuasivearguments which the word affiwds, are our mindsaffected, and our souls wrought upon in our conversion unto God, whence it becomes our reasonable obedience. And there are none ordina- rily converted, but they are able to give some account Yy ENERATION. 179 by what considerations they were prevailed on thereunto. But; 2. We say that the whole work, or the whole of the work of the Holy Ghost in our conversion doth not consist herein; but there is a real, physical work, where- by he infuseth a gracious principle of spiritual life into all that are effectually converted, and really regene- rated, and without which there is no deliverance from the state of sin and death which we have described; which, among others, may be proved by the ensuing argumeats. Sect. l9. The principal arguments in this case will ensue in our proofs from the scriptures, that there is . a real, physical work of the Spirit oes the souls of men in their regeneration. That all he doth, consisteth not in this moral suasion, the ensuing reasons do sufficient- ly evince. 1. If the Holy Spirit worketh no otherwise on meta in their regeneration or conversion, but. by - proposing unto them, and urging upon them, reasons, arguments, and motives to that purpose; then, after his whole work, and notwithstanding it, the will of man remains abso- lutely indifferent whether it will admit of them or no; or whether it will convert itselfunto God upon them or no; for the whole of this work consists in proposing ob- jects unto the will, with respect whereunto it is left un- determined whither it will choose and close with them or no. And indeed this is that which some plead for. For they say, that in all men, at least all unto whom the gospel is preached, there is that grace present, or with them, that they are able to comply with the word, if they please, and so believe, repent, or do any act of obedienceunto God according to his will. And if they will, they can refuse to make use of this assistance, aid, e' Non est igitue Gratis Deiin liberi Arbitrii natura, &c. in lege at- que Doctrina sisa Petagius desipit, sed ad siegulos actos datur illiva colastale de quo scriptum est; Pianism voluntar:um segregabis Deus banditati tuso. Quia et Iiberum Arbitrium ad diligendum Deumprimi peccati granditate perdidimus; et tes Dei atre doctrina quamvis sancta et justa, temes occidit, si non vivificet Spiritus, per quem fit non ut audiendo sed ut obediendo, peque ut Ieetione sed ut dilectioue tentatur. Quapropter at in Deum medamus et pie vivamus, non volentis peque unentis sed miserentis est Dei; non quia vello non debemos et coresse, sed quia ipse; in noble et volle operanoet correre; Non ergo gratiam dicamus esse Doctrinara, sed agnoscamus Gratiam qua facis prudesse Doctrinara; gua Gratia si decir, videmus etiam obsessDoctriumn. An- gust. Epist. 107. ad Vitalem, 25
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