Fifthly, Touching the manner of the1 working: there is a difference between the grace it self of Sanctification, and the fruits that come from it. In the grace it self, as in the work of our new birth, man standeth mere passive before God, having ⟨p. 457⟩no power or virtue in him to work with Gods Spirit, or to help the work of Grace, yet he is not in this first renewing of his soul, as a trunk or a dead stock, for that he hath both reason and faculties, or powers fit to receive the Grace of God, when his Spirit doth work upon them. But in the fruits of Sanctification,2 the principal Agent is indeed the very Spirit of Christ, who after the first grace, and new Creation, abideth and dwelleth in us; not idly, but ever working some good in us, and by us, as it is said, Rom. 8. 26. The holy Ghost maketh intercession for us, with sighs, which cannot be expressed: But a second Agent, working with Gods holy Spirit, is the very soul of man, or rather, the new man, or new creature in the soul, and all the faculties thereof: So that in this second Grace, which is the action, or work of faith, we stand not as mere passive, but being moved by the holy Ghost, we work our selves, by his Spirit working in us. Whereupon we are called, gThe fellow-workers with God, 1. Cor. 3.
Fiftly, Touching the manner of the1 working: there is a difference betweene the grace it selfe of Sanctification, and the fruits that come from it. In the grace it selfe, as in the worke of our new birth, man standeth meere passiue before God, hauing ⟨p. 457⟩no power or vertue in him to worke with Gods Spirit, or to helpe the worke of Grace, yet hee is not in this first renewing of his soule, as a trunke or a dead stock, for that he hath both reason and faculties, or powers fit to receiue the Grace of God, when his Spirit doth worke vpon them. But in the fruits of Sanctification,2 the principal Agent is indeed the verie Spirit of Christ, who after the first grace, and new Creation, abideth and dwelleth in vs; not idlely, but euer working some good in vs, and by vs, as it is said, Rom. 8. 26. The holy Ghost maketh intercession for vs, with sighs, which cannot be expressed: But a second Agent, working with Gods holy Spirit, is the verie soule of man, or rather, the new man, or new creature in the soule, and all the faculties thereof: So that in this second Grace, which is the action, or worke of faith, wee stand not as meere passiue, but beeing moued by the holie Ghost, wee worke our selues, by his Spirit working in vs. Whereupon we are called, gThe fellow-workers with God, 1. Cor. 3.
- 1The Papists say, that in Freewill there is a liberty or strength to receive or reject the grace that should quicken it, which they call, Preventing Grace: and so part the slakes between Grace and mans Freewill.The Papists say, that in Freewill there is a libertie or strength to receiue or reiect the grace that should quicken it, which they call, Preuenting Grace: and so part the slakes betweene Grace and mans Freewill.
- 2The Papists make not the Holy Ghost, but their own Free-will, the principal agent in this second grace; which Free-will, they say, goeth before, and disposeth and prepareth us to a Justifying Grace, in believing, in hoping, in repenting, &c.The Papists make not the Holie Ghost, but their owne Free-will, the principal agent in this second grace; which Free-will, they say, goeth before, and disposeth and prepareth vs to a Iustifying Grace, in belieuing, in hoping, in repenting, &c.
- g1. Cor. 3. 9.
