OF REG Sect. 35. (2.) The will, in the first act of conver- sion, (as even sundry of the schoolmen acknowledge) acts not but as it is acted, moves not but as it is moved, and therefore is passive therein in the sense immediately to be explained: and if this be not so, it cannot be a- voided, bat that the act of our turning unto God is a mere natural act, and not spiritual or gracious. For it e. is an act of the will not enabled thereunto antecedently by grace. Wherefore it most be granted, and it shall be proved, that in order of nature, the acting of grace in the will in our conversion is antecedent unto its own acting; though in the same instant of time wherein the will is moved, it moves; and when it is actuated, it acts itself, and preserves its own liberty in its exercise. There is therefore herein an inward almighty secret act of the power of the Holy Ghost, producing or effecting in us the will of conversion unto God, so actuating our wills, as that they also act themselves, and that freely. So. Austin. cont. Dues Ppist. Pelag. lib. 1. cap. 19. ae Trahitur (homo) minis inodis ut velit, ab illo qui no. vit intus in ipsis cordibus hominum operari, non ut homines, quad fieri noti possit, nolentes credant, sed sa ut volentes ex nolentibus fiant." The Holy Spirit who in his power and operation is more intimate, as it were tinto the principles of our souls than they are to themselves, doth with the preservation, and its the ex-. ercise of the liberty of our wills, effectually work our regeneration and conversion unto God. This is the substance of what we plead for in this cause, and which declares the nature of this work of regeneration, as it is an inward spiritual work. 1 shall therefore confirm the truth proposed with evident testimonies of scripture, and reasons contained in them or educed from them. Sect. 36.-1. The work of conversion itself and in especial the act of believing, or * faith itself is expressly said to beof God, to be wrought in us by him, to be given unto us from him. The scripture says not that s ítestai ut ipsam fideos siede omnis Justitia sumir initium, non liu- leseo, quo issi estolluntur, tribuamus arbitrio, nee ullis precedentibus mentis, quoniam inde incipiunt bona qua;cunque suet merita sed gratui tom Dei densos esse fateamur, si gentians vemm. id ese, sine Merisis cogitemue. August. Epist. 105. Noltem Ergo his tam clans t,stimoñiïs 'repugnare, dt Lamen veteñ, 'á se ipso sibi esse quod- credit, gessi 'componit cum Deo ut partem fidei vendicet, atque illi partem 'rel,iquat'i et quod est elatius, prim m tollit ipse, sequentem das illi; 'et in no quod dicit esse amborum priorem se,posteriorem fecit Drum. August. de Prellest. Sanct, cap. 2. S A ENERATION. 187 God gives us ability or power to believe only, namely, such a power as we may make use of if we will, or ein otherwise; but faith, repentance, and conversion them- selves are said to be the work and effect of God. In- deed there is nothing mentioned in the scripture con- cerning the communicatingof power remote or next unto the mind of man, to enable him to believe antecedently unto actual believing. A remote power, if it may be so called, in the capacities of the faculties of the soul, the reason of the mind, and liberty of the will, we have given an account'concerning. But for that which some call a next power*, or an ability to believe in order of nature antecedent unto believing itself, wrought in us by the grace of God, the scripture is silent. The apos tle Paul saith of himself, eased igea it to isln,opeaeve µs Elrfo, Phil, iv. 13. 1 can do all thing's, or prevail in all things, through Christ who enabletla rates where a power or ability seems to be spoken of antecedent unto acting. But this is not a power for the first act of faith, but a power in them that believe. Such a power I ac- knowledge, which is actuated in the co-operation of the Spirit and grace of Christ, with the grace which belie- vers have received, unto the performance of all acts of holy obedience, whereof I must treat elsewhere. Belie- vers havea stockofhabitual grace, which may be called in.dwelling grace, in the same sense wherein original corruption is called in- dwelling sin. And this grace, as it is necessary unto every act of spiritual obedience, so, of itself without the renewed co-working of the Spirit of Christ, it is not able nor sufficient to produceany spi- ritual act. This working of Christ upon, and with the grace we have received, is called enabling of us. But with persons unregenerate, and as to thefirst act of faith, it is not so. Sect. 57.But it will be objected, that every thing which is actually accomplished, was in potentia before. There must therefore be in us a power to believe before we do to actually, Ans. The act of God workingfaith in us, is a creating act, For we are his workmanship a QuandoDeus docet per Spiritus dratiam, ita decet ut quod quisque didicerit non tantum cognoscendovideat, sedetiam volendoappetat agen- doque perficiat. Et ipso.Divino Decreti modo etiam ipsa Veluntas, et ipsa opertain don sole votendi et operandi naturdlis possibilitas adjuvatur. Si enim totem posse nostrum bac Gratia Juvaretur, ita diceresDominus, omnisqui audiverit a Patre at didicet potent ve.rc ad tue. August. de Gnat. Christ, Contra, Petagium, cep. 14. 2b
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