OF REGENERATION. 185 physical immediate operation of the Spirit by his power and grace, or his powerful grace upon the minds or souls of men in their regeneration. This is that which we must cleave to, or all the glory of God's grace is lost, and the grace administered by Christ neglected. So is it asserted, Ephes. i. 19, 20. e, That we may " know what is the exceeding greatness of his power to- .r wards us who believe, according to the working of his "mighty power; which he wrought in Christ when he " raised him from the dead." The power here men- tioned hath an exceeding greatness ascribed unto it, with respect unto the effect produced by it. The power of God in itself is as unto all acts equally infinite, he is omnipotent. But some effects are greater than others, and carry in them more than ordinary impressionsof it. Such'is that here intended, whereby. God makes men to be believers, and preserves them when they are so. And unto this power of God, there is an actual opera- tion or efficiency ascribed, the working of his mighty power. And the nature of this operation or efficiency is declared to be of the same kind with that which was exerted in the raising of Christ from the dead. And this was by a real physical efficiency of divine power. This therefore is here testified, that the work of God towards believers, either to make them so, or preserve them such, for all is one as unto our present purpose, con- sists in the acting of his divine power by a real internal efficiency, So God is said to fulfil in us all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power, 2 Thess. i. 11. 2 Pet. i. 3. And hence the work of grace in conversion is constantly expressed by Nee quod sola potest cure offeioque Ministri Exequitun famulisve vicem committit agendi. Qui quamvis multa admoneant mandateencestis. Pulsant non intrant animas; Deus ergo sepultas Suscitas et solvit peccati compede siestas Ille obscuratis Cordibus dal intellectum. Ille ex injustis justos facit, indit amorem Quo redametur amans; et amor quem conferet ipso est Bone itaque Affectumquo sumunt mortua Vitam, Quo tenebme fiunt lumen, quo immunda vilemunt; Quo stain sapere incipient aegriquevalescunt Nemoalii dat, nemo sibs. Prosp. de Ingrat. cap. t5. Logan ergo at intelligent. intueantur et Iserantur, non lege atque Doctrine insonante forinsecus, sed intima atque occulta, mirabili atque ineffabili potestate operavi Deum inCordibus hominum non solmn veras Revelationes, sedetiam bonus Votuntatet. August. lib. de Qert, Christ. adv. Pelagium et Contest, nap, 24. words denoting a real internal efficiency, such are creat- ing, quickening, forming, giving a new heart, where- of afterwards. Wherever this work is spoken of, with respect untoan active efficiency, it is ascribed unto God. He creates us a-new, he quickens us, he begets us of his own will; but where it is spoke of with respect unto us, there it is passively expressed; we are created in Christ Jesus, we are new creatures, we are born again; and the like; which one observation is sufficient to e- vert the whole hypothesis of Arminian grace. Unless a work wrought by power, and that real, and imme- diate be intended herein, such a work may neither be supposed possible, nor can be expressed. Wherefore it is plain in the scripture, that the Spirit of God works internally, immediately, efficiently in and upon tho minds of men in their regeneration. The new birth is the effect of an act of his power and grace: or, no man is born again but it is by the inward efficiency of the Spirit. Sect. 30. (3.) This internal efficiency of the Holy Spirit on the minds ofmen, as to the event, is 5 infalli- ble, victorious, irresistible, or always efficacious. But in this assertion, we suppose that the measure of the ef, ficacy of grace, and the end to be attained, are fixed by the will of God. As to that end whereuntoof God it is designed, it is always prevalent or effectual, and cannot be resisted; or, it will effectually work what God de, signs it to work; for, wherein he will work, none shall let him; and who hath resisted his will? there are many motions of grace even in the hearts of believers, which are thus far resisted, as that they attain not that effect which in their own nature they have a tendency unto. - Were it otherwise, all believers would he perfect. But it is manifest in experience, that we do not always an, swer the inclinations of grace, at least as unto the de, gree which it moves toward. But yet even such motions also, ifthey are of and from saving grace, are effectual so far, and for all those ends which they are designed ' Quid est ente qui audivit a Patre, et didicit, vent ad me; nisi nulles est quiaudiat et discat a Patre et non veniat ed mil Si eaim nras qui audivit a Patre et didicit, venie, profecto omnia qui non vent non audivit a Patre nee didicit: nám si sudi:set et didieisset venret, r Hæc itaque Gratia quæ occulte humans Cordibus divina largitale tri.. baitur, a nullo duro corde respuiter; ideo (grippe tribuitur ut Cordis duritia primitus auferatur. Augustin. de preedestinatione Sanctorum; lib. 1. cap. 8.
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