by the omnipotent power of the Spirit without the employment of the word. But the premise being false, these conclusions, though absolutely contradictory, are equally false. To all which, it may be replied,—It is, indeed, true that the Holy Spirit does regenerate the soul prior to its active reception of the truth; but does it, therefore, follow that the Spirit cannot act upon the truth, and upon the soul by the truth, prior to any ability in the soul to act by the truth? Certainly not. Man's inability can neither destroy nor limit the power of God. Neither can man's depravity resist means which God wills to make effectual. The objection, then, imbodies the very soul of Arminianism; for it restricts God's right and power of acting to fallen man's ability. It is a concession of the whole field to the advocates of free will; an acknowledgment that Calvinism is an unscriptural absurdity; while it draws an inference opposite to Arminianism; but leading to enthusiasm.

XIV. It is asserted that James i. 18, “ says nothing about a new heart." It is replied,If this be so, it is remarkable that the whole Christian world should have failed to discover

it till the year 1842;-and the objector is entitled to the sole honour of its discovery. But this objection is such a direct and unequivocal contradiction of the divine word, that argument would be lost upon minds which are capable of being influenced by such naked. assertions; and may well be dispensed with in the case of such as take the scriptures of truth as their infallible guide.

XV. It is alleged that Turretine denies the doctrine of the instrumentality of the word in regeneration. To this it may be replied, the quotations already made from that learned author in the preceding pages, prove that he maintained the doctrine of the instrumentality of the word. He does, indeed, use one expression, which, apart from its connexion, and what he elsewhere says, might be construed, not into a denial of instrumentality, but into an admission that there is an immediate action of the Spirit, in the regenerating act, distinct, though not separate, from his action by the word. Whether this be so or not, is wholly unknown to us. But it is far from a denial of the word's instrumentality. In addition to the passages already quoted from Turretine, the following

may be added: The external and internal call of the gospel agree, "on the part of God, who calls; on the part of men, who are called; and on the part of the INSTRUMENT, which is ordinarily the word in each call.*

XVI. It is alleged Dr. Owen taught the doctrine that regeneration is effected without the instrumentality of the word. If this allegation were true, it would, doubtless, stagger the faith of some who acknowledge themselves much indebted to that great man for his masterly expositions of the sacred word. But it is suitable that the Dr. should speak for himself:-"The gospel is salvation efficiently; in that it is the great instrument which God is pleased to use, in and for the collation† and bestowing salvation upon his elect. Hence, the apostle calls it the "power of God unto salvation," Rom. i. 16; because God, in and by it, exerts his mighty power in the saving of them that believe; as it is again so called, 1 Cor. i. 18, whence there is a saving power ascribed unto the word itself,-As, 1. In the regeneration and sanctification of the elect, the first

* De Vocatione et Fide, Quest. I., Sect. vii. + Conferring.

external act of this salvation. This is wrought by the word, 1 Pet. i. 23: "We are born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God." Wherein not only the thing itself, of our regeneration by the word, but the manner of it, also, is declared. It is by the collation of a new spiritual life upon us, whereof the word is the seed. As every life proceeds from some seed, that hath in itself virtually the whole life to be educed from it, by natural ways and means, so THE WORD IN THE

HEARTS OF MEN IS TURNED INTO A VITAL

PRINCIPLE, that, cherished, by suitable means, puts forth vital acts and operations. By this means we are born of God and quickened, who by nature are children of wrath, dead in trespasses and sins. So, Paul tells the Corinthians, that he had begotten them, in Jesus Christ, by the gospel, 1 Cor. iv. 15. I confess, it doth not do this work by any power resident in itself, and always necessarily accompanying its administration; for then all would be regenerated to whom it is preached, and there would be no neglectors of it: but it is the INSTRUMENT of God for this end, and mighty and powerful through God it is, for

the accomplishment of it. And this gives us our first real interest in the salvation, which it doth declare. Of the same use and efficacy is it in the progress of this work in our sanctification.*

XVII. It is objected that Dr. Gill, the celebrated commentator, denied the doctrine of the instrumentality of the word in regeneration. To this it may be replied that Dr. Gill is to be regarded rather as speaking hesitatingly than as peremptorily denying the doctrine. His words are," The instrumental cause of regeneration, if it may be so called, are the word of God and the ministers of it

Yet this instrumentality of the word in regeneration seems not so agreeable to the principle of grace implanted in the soul in regeneration, and to be understood in respect to that; since that is done by immediate infusion, and is represented as a creation. . . . . Wherefore, [the instrumentality of the word] is rather to be understood of the exertion of the principle of grace, and the drawing it forth into act and exercise.. Though, after all, it seems

* Exposition of the Hebrews, vol. iii. pp. 313, 314.