Burnet, Gilbert (1643-1715)

An Exposition of the Thirty-Nine Articles of the Church of England

London

Ri. Chiswell

1699

"They infer, That besides the outward Enlightening of a Man by Knowledge, there is an inward Enlightening of the Mind, and a secret forcible conviction stampt on it."

After all, they think, That if a Debate falls to be between the Sovereignty of God, his Acts and his Purposes, and the freedom of Man's will, it is modest and decent rather to make the abatement on Man's part than on God's; but they think there is no need of this. They infer, That besides the outward Enlightening of a Man by Knowledge, there is an inward Enlightening of the Mind, and a secret forcible conviction stampt on it, otherwise what can be meant by the Prayer of St. Paul for the Ephesians, who had already heard the Gospel preached, and were instructed in it; That the eyes of their understanding being enlightened, they might know what was the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, and what was the exceeding greatness of his power towards them that believed. This seems to be somewhat that is both Internal and Efficacious. Christ compares the Union and Influence that he communicates to Believers, to that Union of a Head with the Members, and of a Root with the Branches; which imports an Internal, a Vital, and an Efficacious Influence. And though the outward means that are offered, may be, and always are rejected, when not accompanied with this overcoming Grace, yet this never returns empty: These outward means coming from God, the resisting of them is said to be Eph. 1. 17, 18, 19. the resisting God, the grieving or quenching his Spirit; and so in that sense we resist the Grace or Favour of God: But we can never withstand him when he intends to overcome us.
(pp. 187)

Uncategorized::Stamping

Searching "mind" in Ad Fontes's Digital Library of Classic Protestant Texts

07/20/2005

08/31/2011