Questions on Chapter 34.

(2) The Holy Spirit exerts this regenerating power only on conditions required of man.

The first position, we think, needs no additional proof. On the last we will observe:

(1) It cannot be maintained that the prima facie evidence of Scripture is opposed to conditional regeneration. To quote all the passages which unequivocally teach this idea, would be to transcribe much of the sacred volume. Let it suffice that we notice the principal objection to this doctrine. It is said by Calvinists to conflict with the Scripture view of human depravity and salvation by grace. In reply to this objection, we remark, 1. It might be inconsistent with the doctrine of human depravity, if it were contended that the sinner performs these conditions of himself, independent of divine grace; but such is not the fact. It is “God that worketh in us,” that we may have the ability to comply with the conditions prescribed: of ourselves we can do nothing. God imparts the grace, which we are required to improve; and when the condition is performed, the promise is sure. As to the second branch of the objection, we reply, that the conditions of regeneration cannot destroy the idea of grace, unless those conditions are considered meritorious. Grace or favor does not cease to be such because it is conferred according to a certain plan. The conditions of salvation do not change the nature of the blessing bestowed: they only describe the method of bestowment.

From all that has been said, we conclude that regeneration is neither a work of God without the agency of man, nor a work of man without the influence of God, but a work of God performed on conditions required of man.

QUESTIONS ON CHAPTER 34.

QUESTION 1. Is regeneration intimately connected with other leading doctrines?

2. In what places does the term occur in Scripture?

3. What is its literal import?

4. How is it to be understood in Matthew?

5. How in Titus?

6. By what other terms is regeneration expressed in Scripture?

7. Does regeneration consist in a historical and theoretical belief of the truth?

8. Does it consist in mere morality?

9. Does it consist in a mere external profession, and observance of the ordinances and external duties of religion?

10. Does it imply new faculties of body or soul?

11. How, then, may it be defined?

12. By what texts is this definition sustained?

13. How is regeneration distinguished from justification and adoption?

14. Are these blessings simultaneous?

15. What three leading theories on the attainment of regeneration have been advanced?

16. By what quotations is the theory of passive regeneration shown to be Calvinistic?

17. Is this theory inseparably connected with particular and unconditional election?

18. What is the second argument against this theory?

19. The third?

20. The fourth?

21. The fifth?

22. The sixth?

23. Who have been the advocates of the second theory?

24. Have they been agreed among themselves?

25. How is this theory shown to be unphilosophical?

26. In what two different senses is the influence of the Spirit understood?

27. How is the argument for divine influence, founded on the nature of things, attempted to be evaded?

28. How is the evasion met?

29. How is this theory shown to be inconsistent with total depravity?

30. How does it conflict with the duty of prayer?

31. Wherein is it contrary to those scriptures which attribute this change directly to God?

32. What are some of those scriptures?

33. In what two propositions is the Scripture theory contained?

34. What is the principal Calvinistic objection to this theory?

35. How is the first branch of the objection answered?

36.How is the second answered?

37. What is the grand concluding proposition?