Section I. — All those whom God hath predestinated unto life, and those only, he is pleased, in his appointed and accepted time, effectually to calV by his word and Spirit,'' out of that state of sin and death in which they are by nature, to grace and salvation by Jesus Christ ;' enlightening their minds spiritually and savingly to understand the things of God ;* taking away their heart of stone, and giving unto them an heart of flesh ;^ renewing their wills, and by his almighty power determining them to that which is good,* and effectually drawing them to Jesus Christ ;' yet so as they come most freely, being made willing by his grace. ^

Section II. — ^This effectual call is of God's free and special grace alone, not from anything at all foreseen in man ;' who is altogether passive therein, until, being quickened and renewed by the Holy Spirit," he is thereby enabled to answer this call, and to embrace the grace offered and conveyed in it."

1 Rom. viii. 30; xi. 7; Eph. i. 10, 11.— 2 2 Thess. ii. 13, 14; 2 Cor. iii. 3, 6.— « Rom. viii. 2; Eph. ii. 1-5; 2 Tim. i. 9, 10.—* Acts xxvi. 18; 1 Cor. ii. 10, 12 ; Eph. i. 17, 18.— 6 Ezek. xxxvi. 26.-6 Ezek. xi. 19 ; Phil. ii. 13 ; Deut. XXX. 6; Ezek. xxxvi. 27.— ^ Eph. i. 19; John vi. 44, 45.-8 Cant. 1. 4 ; Ps. ex. 3 ; John vi. 37 ; Rom. vi. 16-18.— 9 2 Tim. i. 9 ; Tit. iii. 4, 5 ; Eph. ii. 4, 6, 8, 9; Rom. ix. 11.— ^ 1 Cor. ii. 14; Rom. viii. 7; Eph. ii. 6.— 11 John vi. 37 ; Ezek. xxxvi. 27 ; John v. 25.

There is an outward call of God's word extended to all men to whom the gospel is preached, which is considered under the fourth Section of this chapter. The first and second Sections treat of the internal effectual

call of God's Spirit which effects regeneration and which is experienced only by the elect. Of this internal call it is affirmed —

' 1st. That there is such an internal call, and that it is necessary to salvation.

2d. As to the subjects of it, that they embrace all the elect and only the elect.

3d. As to the agent of it — [a) That the sole agent of it is the Holy Ghost, who uses (6) the revealed truth of the gospel as his instrument ; (c) that the subjects of it, while they have freely resisted all those common influences of the Holy Ghost which they have experienced before regeneration, are entirely passive with respect to that special act of the Spirit whereby they are regenerated; nevertheless, in consequence of the change wrought in them in regeneration, they obey the call and subsequently more or less perfectly co-operate with grace.

4th. As to the nature of it, it is taught that it is an exercise of the almighty and effectual power of the Holy Ghost acting immediately upon the soul of the subject, determining him and effectually drawing, yet in a manner perfectly congruous to his nature, so that he comes most freely, being made willing.

5th. As to the effect of it, it is taught that it works a radical and permanent change in the entire moral nature of the subject, spiritually enlightening his mind, sanctifying his affections, renewing his will and giving a new direction to his action.

1st. That there is such an internal call of the Spirit, distinct from the external call of the Word, and that it is necessary to salvation, are proved (1) from what the Sciiptures te:u-h concerning man's state by nature as a

state of spiritual death, blindness, insensibility and absolute inability with respect to all action spiritually good, as has been sufficiently shown under Chap, ix., § 3.

(2.) The Scriptures distinguish between the Spirit's influence and that of the Word alone. 1 Cor. ii. 14, 15 ; iii. 6 ; 1 Thess. i. 5, 6.

(3.) A spiritual influence is declared to be necessary to dispose and enable men to receive the truth. John vi. 45; Acts xvi. 14; Eph. i. 17.

(4.) All that is good in man is referred to God as its author. Eph. ii. 8 ; Phil. ii. 13 ; 2 Tim. ii. 25 ; Heb. xiii. 21.

(5.) The working of the Spirit upon the hearts of the regenerated is represented as far more direct, powerful and efficient than the mere moral influence of the truth upon the understanding and affections. Eph. i. 19; iii. 7.

(6.) The result effected in regeneration is different from an effect proper to the simple truth. It is "a new birth,'' " a new creation," etc. John iii. 3, 7 ; Eph, iv. 24.

(7.) The Scriptures explicitly distinguish between the two calls. Of the subjects of the one it is said, "Many are called, but few are chosen." Matt. xxii. 14. Of the subjects of the other it is said, " Whom he called, them he also justified." Rom. viii. 30. Comp. Prov. i. 24, and John vi. 45.

All these arguments conspire to prove that this spiritual influence is essential to salvation. Whatever is the necessary condition of regeneration is the necessary condition of salvation, because "except a man be born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." John iii. 3.

2»* v^.

2d. That this spiritual call embraces all the elect, aud only the elect, is proved — (1.) From 'what has been already proved, (a) Chapter iii., §§ 3, 4, 5, that God has from eternity definitely and unchangeably determined who shall be saved ; and (6) Chapter iii., § 6, that God, having "appointed the elect unto glory, so hath he, by the eternal and most free purpose of his will, foreordained all the means thereunto." Effectual calling being the actual saving of a soul from the death of sin by the mighty power of God, it is obvious that it must be applied to all who are to be saved, and that it cannot be applied to any who are not to be saved. (2.) The same is proved from the fact that the Scriptures represent the "called" as the "elect" and the "elect" as the "called." Kom. viii. 28, 30. "Those with Christ in heaven are called, elect and faithful." (3.) The Scriptures, moreover, declare that the "calling" is based upon the "election." 2 Tim. xix. " Who hath saved us and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before the world began." 2 Tim. i. 9; 2 Thess. ii. 13, 14; Rom. xi. 7.

3d. That the sole agent in this effectual calling is the Holy Ghost ; that he uses Gospel truth as his instrument; and that, while all sinners are active in resisting the common influences of grace before regeneration, and all believers in co-operating with sanctifying grace after regeneration, nevertheless every new-created soul is passive with respect to^ that divine act of the Holy Spirit whereby he is regenerated, may all be proved under the following distinct heads :

(1.) There are certain influences of the Spirit in the

present life which extend to all men in a greater or less degree; which tend to restrain or to persuade the soul; which are exerted in the way of heightening the natural moral eifect of the truth upon the understanding, the licart and the conscience. They involve no change of principle and permanent disposition, but only an increase of the natural emotions of the heart in view of sin, of duty and of self-interest. These influences, of course, may be resisted, and are habitually resisted, by the un regenerated. The fact that such resistible influences are experienced by men is proved (a) from the fact that the Scriptures affirm that they ar^ resisted. Gen, vi. 3 ; Heb. x. 29. (6.) Every Christian is conscious that anterior to his conversion he was the subject of influences impressing him with serious thoughts, convincing him of sin, tending to draw him to the obedience of Christ, which he for the time resisted. We observe the same to be true of many men who are never truly converted at all.

(2.) The distinction between regeneration and conversion is obvious and necessary. Under Chapter ix. we saw that the voluntary acts of the human soul are determined by and derive their character from the afi^ections and desires which prompt them ; and these affections and desires derive their character from the permanent moral state of the soul in which they arise. In the unregenerate this permanent moral state and disposition of the soul is evil, and lience the action is evil. Action positively holy is impossible except as the consequence of a positively holy disposition. The infusion of such a disposition must therefore precede any act of true spiritual obedience. Effectual calling, according tc

the usage of our Standards, is the act of the Holy Spirit effe(ting regeneration. Regeneration is the effect produced by the Holy Spirit in effectual calling. The Holy Spirit, in the act of effectual calling, causes the 30ul to become regenerate by implanting a new governing principle or habit of spiritual affection and action. The soul itself, in conversion, immediately acts under the guidance of this new principle in turning from sin unto God through Christ. It is evident that the implantation of the gracious principle is different from the exercise of that principle, and that the making a man willing is different from his acting willingly. This first is the act of God solely ; the second is the consequent act of man, dependent upon the continued assistance of the Holy Ghost.

That God is the sole agent in the act which effects regeneration is plain — (a.) From the nature of the case, as shown above. The making an unwilling man willing cannot be co-operated with by the man while unwilling. (6.) From what was proved under Chapter ix., § 3, as to man's absolute inability with respect to spiritual things, (c.) From what the Scriptures say as to the nature of the change. They call it ^'a. new birth," "a begetting," '^a quickening," "a new creation." ^'God begetteth, the Spirit quickeneth ;" " We are born again," "TFe are God's workmanship." See also Ezek. xi. 19; Ps. li. 10; Eph. iv. 23; Heb. viii. 10. That, after regeneration, the new-born soul at once begins and ever continues more or less perfectly to co-operate with sano tifying grace, is self-evident. Faith, repentance, love, good works, are one and all at the same time "fruits of the Spirit" and free actions of men. We are continually

conscious, moreover, that we are subject to divine influences, which we are either resisting or obeying, and which we are free to resist or obey as we please, while through grace we do prevailingly please to obey.

(3.) That the Holy Spirit uses the 'Hruth'' as his instrument in effectual calling is plain — (a.) Because he never acts in this way where the knowledge of the truth is entirely wanting, (b.) Because the Scriptures assert that we are begotten by the truth, sanctified by the truth, grow by it, etc. John xvii. 19 ; James i. 18.

4th. That this divine action is in its nature at once omnipotent and certainly efficacious, and yet perfectly congruous to the rational and voluntary nature of man, follows certainly from the fact that it is the act of the all-wise and all-powerful God in executing his self-consistent and immutable decrees. What God does directly to accomplish his own changeless purposes must be certainly efficacious and powerful. Eph. i. 18, 19. Besides, the very thing done is to make us willing, to work faith in us ; and that is indubitably connected with salvation. Phil. ii. 13. That it is effectual is also asserted. Eph. iii. 7, 20; iv. 16.

That this divine influence is perfectly congruous to our nature is plain — (1.) From the fact that it is the influence of an all- wise Creator upon the work of his own hand. It is not conceivable either that God is unable or indisposed to control the actions of his creatures in a manner perfectly consistent with their nature. (2.) The influence he exerts is called in Scripture " a drawing," "a teaching," "an enlightening," etc. John vi. 44, 45 ; Eph. i. 18. (3.) By nature the mind is darkened and the affections perverted and the will enslaved by

sin. Eegeneration restores these faculties to their proper condition. It cannot be inconsistent with a rational nature to let in the light, nor to a free will to deliver it from bondage. *' Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.'' 2 Cor. iii. 17 ; Phil. ii. 13; Ps. ex. 3. Every regenerated man is conscious (a) that no constraint has been laid upon the spontaneous movement of his faculties, and (6) that, on the other hand, none of his faculties ever acted so freely and consistently with the law of their nature before.

5th. ^hat this change is radical is proved from the feet that, as shown above, it consists in the implantation of a new governing principle of life — from the fact that it is a " new birth," a " new creation," wrought by the mighty power of God in execution of his eternal purpose of salvation, and that it is as necessary for the most moral and amiable as for the morally abandoned.

That this change is permanent will be shown under Chapter xvii., on the Perseverance of the Saints.

That it affects the entire man — intellect, affections and will — is evident (1) from the essential unity of the soul. It is the one indivisible " I " which thinks, feels and wills. If the permanent moral state of the soul is corrupt, all its functions mast be perverted. We can have no desire for an object unless we perceive its loveliness ; nor can we perceive intellectually the loveliness of that which is wholly uncongenial to our inherent tastes and dispositions. (2.) The Scriptures expressly affirm that sin is essentially deceiving, that innate depravity involves moral blindness, and that the natural man cannot receive the things which are spiritually discerned. 1 Cor. ii 4 ; 2 Cor. iv. 4 ; John xvi. 3. (3.)

The Scriptures expressly affirm that all the "new bom" are the subjects of a spiritual illumination of the understanding as well as renewal of the affections. John xvii. 3 ; 1 Cor. ii. 12, 13 ; 2 Cor. iv. 6 ; Eph. i. 18 ; 1 John iv. 7 ; V. 20. (4.) In the Bible the phrase " to give a new heart" is equivalent to effect regeneration, and the phrase "heart" is characteristically used for the entire interior man — intellect, affections and will. Observe such phrases as " counsels of the heart," 1 Cor. iv. 5 ; " imaginations of the heart," Luke i. 51 ; " thoughts and intents of the heart," Heb. iv. 1 2.

Section III. — Elect infants, dying in infancy, are regenerated and saved by Christ through the Spirit, ^'^ who worketh when and where and how he pleaseth.^' So also are all other elect persons, who are incapable of being outwardly called by the ministry of the Word.**

12 Luke xviii. 16 ; Acts ii. 38, 39 ; John ill. 3, 5 ; 1 John v. 12 ; Rom viii. 9.— 18 John iii. 8.— " 1 John v. 12 ; Acts iv. 12.

The outward call of God's word and all the " means of grace" provided in the present dispensation of course presuppose intelligence upon the part of those who receive them. The will of God, also, is revealed only as far as it concerns those capable of understanding and profiting by the revelation. His purposes with respect either to persons or classes not thus addressed are not explicitly revealed.

If infants and others not capable of being called by the Gospel are to be saved, they must be regenerated and sanctified immediately by God without the use of means. If God could create Adam holy without means, and if he can new-cieate believers in righteousness and true holiness by tht use of means which a large part

of men use without profit, he can certainly make infants and others regenerate without means. Indeed, the natural depravity of infants lies before moral action in the judicial deprivation of the Holy Ghost. The evil is rectified, at that stage, therefore, by the gracious restoration of the soul to its moral relation to the Spirit of God. The phrase "elect infants" is precise and fit for its purpose. It is not intended to suggest that there are any infants not elect, but simply to point out the facts (a) that all infants are born under righteous condemnation, and (b) that no infant has any claim in itself to salvation; and hence (c) the salvation of each infant, precisely as the salvation of every adult, must have its absolute ground in the sovereign election of God. This would be just as true if all adults were elected as it is now that only some adults are elected. It is, therefore, just as true, although we have good reason to believe that all infants are elected. The Confession adheres in this place accurately to the facts revealed. It is certainly revealed that none, either adult or infant, are saved except on the ground of a sovereign election ; that is, all salvation for the human race is pure grace. It is not positively revealed that all infants are elect, but we are left, for many reasons, to indulge a highly probable hope that such is the fact. The Confession affirms what is certainly revealed, and leaves that which revelation has not decided to remain, without the suggestion of a positive opinion upon one side or the other.

Section IV. — Others not elected, although they may be called by the ministry of the word/^ and may have some common operations of the Spirit ;^^ yet they never truly come unto Christ, and therefore cannot be saved ;" much less can men not professing

the Christian religion be saved in any other way whatsoever, be they ever so diligent to frame their Uves according to the light of nature and the law of that religion they do profess;^* and to assert and maintain that they may, is very pernicious, and to be detested. ^^

15 Matt. xxii. 14.— 16 Matt. vii. 22; xiii. 20, 21 ; Heb. vi. 4, 6.—" John vi. 64-66; viii. 24.— i^ Acts iv. 12; John xiv. 6; Eph. ii. 12; John iv. 22; xvii. 3.— 19 2 John 9-11; 1 Cor. xvi. 22; Gal. i. 6-8. '

This Section, taken in connection with the parallel passage in L. Cat., Q. 60, teaches the following propositions :

1st, That the non-elect will certainly fail of salvation, not because a free salvation is not made available to them if they accept Christ, but because they never accept Christ; and they all refuse to accept him, because, although they may be persuaded by some of the common influences of the Holy Ghost, their radical aversion to God is never overcome by effectual calling. It has already been proved under §§ 1 and 2 that the grace of effectual calling extends to all the elect and only to the elect, hence the truth of this proposition follows.

2d. That the diligent profession and honest practice of neither natural religion nor of any other religion than pure Christianity can in the least avail to promote the salvation of the soul, is evident from the essential principles of the gospel. If any person perfectly conformed to the amount of spiritual truth known to him in every thought and act from birth upward, however little that knowledge might be, he would of course need no salvation. But all men, as we have seen, are bcrn under condemnation, and begin to act as moral agents with natures already corrupt. "All have sinned and come

short of the glory of God." Hence it follows that ai. atonement is absolutely necessary, and consequently a personal interest in the redemption of Christ is absolutely necessary to salvation; for if a law, conformity to which could have given life, could have been given, Christ is dead in vain. Gal. ii. 21 ; iii. 21. To admit that men may be saved irrespectively of Christ, is virtually to deny Christ.

3d. That in the case of sane adult persons a knowledge of Christ and a voluntary acceptance of him is essential in order to a personal interest in his salvation is proved — (1.) Paul argues this point explicitly : If men call upon the Lord they shall be saved; but in order to call upon him they must believe; and in order to believe they must hear ; and that they should hear, the gospel must be preached unto them. Thus the established order is. Salvation cometh by faith, faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. Rom. x. 14— 17 ; Matt. xi. 27 ; John xiv. 6 ; xvii. 3 ; Acts iv. 12.

(2.) God has certainly revealed no purpose to save any except those who, hearing the gospel, obey; and he requires that his people, as custodians of the gospel, should be diligent in disseminating it as the appointed means of saving souls. Whatever lies beyond this circle of sanctified means is unrevealed, unpromised, uncovenauted.

(3.) The heathen in mass, with no single definite and unquestionable exception on record, are evidently strangers to God, and going down to death in an unsaved condition. The presumed possibility of being saved without a knowledge of Christ remains, after eighteen hundred years, a possibility illustrated by no example.

There is an external call of the gospel, whereby all who hear it are called to the fellowship of Christ, and to receive a full salvation Id him, without money and without price. — Isa. Iv. 1. This call is not confined to the elect, nor restricted to those who are sensible of their sins, and feel their need of a Saviour, or who possess some good qualifications to distinguish them from others ; but it is addressed to mankind sinners as such, withoT\t distinction, and without exception. All who come under the general denomination of men, whatever be their character and state, have this call directed to them : " To you, O men, I call, and my voice is to the sons of men." — Prov. viii. 4. " Look imto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of tlie earth" — sinners of every nation, of every .

rank, and condition. — Isa. xlv. 22. To reconcile the unli- C) ny mited call of the gospel with the doctrines of particular J ^ j election and a definite atonement, seems to exceed the efforts of the human mind. But though we cannot discover the princijile which reconciles them, the doctrines themselves are clearly taught in the Word of God; and are, therefore, to be received with unhesitating confidence. That the call of the gospel is indefinite and universal, that God is sincere in addressing this call to all to whom the gospel comes, and that none who comply with the call shall b'e disappointed ; these are unquestionable truths. But the outward call by the Word is of itself ineffectual. Though all withoiit exception are thus called, yet multitudes refuse to hearken, and in this respect " many are called, but few are chosen;" that is, few are determined effectually to embrace the call. But there is also an internal call, in which the Holy Spirit accompanies the external call with power and efficacy iipon the

1 20 CONFESSION OF FAITH. [^CHAP. X.

soul ; and tliis call is always effectual. This effectual work of the Spirit is termed a calling, because men are naturally at a distance from Christ, and are hereby brought into fellowship with him. They are called " out of that state of sin and death in which they are by nature, to grace and salvation by Jesus Christ" — out of darkness into marvellous light — out of the world that lieth in wickedness into the family of God — from a state of bondage into a state of glorious liberty — from a state of sin unto holiness — and from a state of w^rath unto tlie hope of eternal glory. Concerning this calling Ave are here taught, —

1. That the elect alone are partakers of it : " All those whom God hath predestinated unto life, and those only, he is pleased effectually to call." The subjects of this work are said to be " called according to God's purpose," and " whom he did predestinate, them he also called," — Rom. viii. 28, 30;

2 Tim. i, 9. Those who dispense the Word know not who are included in " the election of grace," and must, therefore, address the calte and invitations of the gospel to men indiscriminately. They draw the bow at a venture, but the Lord, who " knoweth them that are his," directs the arrow, so as to cause it to strike home to the hearts of those whom he " hath chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world."

2. That this calling is under the direction of the sovereign will and pleasure of God as to the time of it. He is pleased to call his elect " in his appointed and accepted time." Some are called into the vineyard at the third hour, some at the sixth, some at the ninth, and some even at the eleventh hour of the day. Some, like good Obadiah, have feared the Lord from their youth ; others, like Saul of Tarsus, have been born, as it were, out of due time. There is also a diversity with respect to the maimer of this calling. Some, like Lydia, have been secretly and sweetly allured to the Saviour, and could hardly declare the time or manner in which the happy change began ; others, like the Philippian jailer, have for a season suffered the terrors of the Lord, and been made to cry out, trembling and astonished, " What shall I do to be saved ?" — Acts xvi.

3. That this calling is effected by the Word and Spirit. The Word is visually the outward means employed, and the Holy Spirit is always the efficient agent, in calling men into the kingdom of grace. If, in any instance, the call of the gospel proves successful, it is not owing to the piety or persuasive eloquence of those who dispense the gospel (1 (!!or. iii. 7); neither is it on account of one making a better use than another of his own free will (Rom. ix. 16) ; it is

solely to be ascribed to the power of the Divine Spirit accompanying the outward call of the Word, — 1 Thess. i. 5. By means of the law, the Spirit convinces them of their sinfulness, shows them the danger to which they are exposed, and discovers to them the utter insufficiency of their own works of righteousness as the ground of their hope and trust for acceptance before God. By means of the gospel, he enlightens their minds in the knowledge of Christ — discovers to them the glory of his person, the perfection of his righteousness, the suitableness of his offices, and the fulness of his grace ; shows them his ability to save to the uttermost, his suitableness to their condition, and his willingness to receive all that come to him. He also takes away their heart of stone, and gives unto them an heart of flesh — renews their wills, and effectually determines and enables them to embrace Christ as their OAvn Saviour.

4. That in this calling no violence is offered to the will. While the Spirit effectually draws sinners to Christ, he deals with them in a Avay agreeable to their rational nature, " so as they come most freely, being made willing by his grace." The liberty of the will is not invaded, for that would destroy its very nature; but its obstinacy is overcome, its perverseness taken away, and the whole soul powerfully, yet sweetly, attracted to the Saviour. The compliance of the soul is voluntary, while the energy of the Spirit is efficient and almighty : " Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power." — Ps, ex. 3.

5. That in this calling the operations of the Holy Spirit are invincible. As Arminians and others maintain that God gives sufficient grace to all men, upon the due improvement of which they may be saved, if it is not their own fault, so they also hold that there are no operations of the Spirit in conversion which do not leave the sinner in such a state as that he may either comply with them or not. It is obvious that this opinion makes the success of the Spirit's work to depend on the sinner's free will, so that those who do actually obey the call of the gospel are not more indebted to God than those who reject it, but may take praise to themselves for having made a better use of their power, in direct opposition to Scripture, which declares that " it is not of him that willeth, but of God that showeth mercy." We admit that there are common operations of the Spirit which do not issue in the conversion of the sinner ; but we maintain that the qncial operations of the Spirit overcome all opposition, and effectually determine the sinner to embrace Jesus Christ as he is offered in the gospel. If the special operations of

122 CONFESSION OF FAITH. [ciIAP. X.

the Spirit were not invincible, but might be effectually resisted, then it would be uncertain whether any would believe or not, and consequently possible that all which Christ had done and suffered in the work of redemption might have been done and suffered in vain.

6. That this calling proceeds from the free grace of God. The term grace is sometimes used to denote the influence of the Holy Spirit on the heart, and sometimes to denote the free favour of God, as opposed to all merit on the part of his creatures. It is to be understood in the latter sense when this effectual call is said to be " of God's free and special grace alone, not from anything at all foreseen in man." Previous to their vocation, men can perform no work that is spiritually good ; and, after their conversion, their best works are imperfect, and cannot entitle them to any reward. God is not, therefore, influenced to call them on account of any good works which they have already done, nor from the foresight of anything to be afterwards done by them. — 2 Tim. i. 9 ; Tit. iii. 5. To manifest that this call is entirely owing to the free grace of God, and to display the exceeding riches of his grace, God is sometimes pleased to call the very chief of sinners.

7. That in this calling the sinner is altogether fa^slve, until he is quickened and renewed by the Holy Spirit. Here it is proper to distinguish between regeneration and conversion ; in the former the sinner is passive — in the latter he is active, or co-operates with the grace of God. In regeneration a principle of grace is implanted in the soul, and previous to this the sinner is incapable of morai activity; for, in the language of inspiration, he is " dead in trespasses and sins." In conversion the soul turns to God, which imports activity; but still the sinner only acts as he is acted upon by God, who " worketh in him both to will and to do."