This just appeared in my email and I wanted to share it and see what you think. Feel free to comment!
DISPUTATION XLII ON THE VOCATION OF SINFUL MEN TO
CHRIST, AND TO A PARTICIPATION OF SALVATION IN HIM
The calling to Christ and His
benefits, is the gracious act of God. This is through the word and His Spirit.
He calls forth sinful men who are subject to condemnation and under the dominion
of sin due to the condition of natural life, and out of the defilements and
corruptions of this world. They are called to obtain a supernatural life in
Christ through repentance and faith. The goal being to become united with Him,
the life destined and ordained by God, and may enjoy the participation of His
benefits, to the glory of God and to their own salvation. The cause of this
calling is God and the Father in the Son. The Son because He is affirmed
Mediator and King by God the Father, calls men by the Holy Spirit. The Spirit of
God being given and the Spirit of Christ, the King and the Head of His church,
by whom the Father and the Son both “work hitherto.” However, this calling is
so administered by the Spirit, that He also, is properly designated as the
author of it. For He appoints bishops in the church, He sends teachers, He
furnishes them with gifts, He grants them divine aid, and imparts force and
authority to the word. The antecedent or only moving cause is the grace, mercy
and philanthropy of God, by which He is inclined to send relief for the misery
of sinful men, and to bestow blessedness upon him. Nevertheless the primary cause is the wisdom and the justice of God, by which He knows the means
by which it is proper for this call to be sent forth. His will dispenses it in
its proper and right form. The decree of His will determines its administration
and mode. The usual cause of the call is the word of God being administered by
the aid of man, either by preaching or by writing, and this is the usual mode;
or it is the divine word directly sent by God, inwardly to the mind and will,
without human aid or endeavor.
However, this is an uncommon method. The word employed, in both these cases, is
that both of the law and of the gospel, subordinate to each other in their
separate services. Men are called in their sensual life, as worldly, natural,
sensual, and sinful. The conditions in which they are called are both the state
of natural life and that of sin and of misery on account of sin. Consequently
also, from the state of condemnation and guilt, and ultimately from the bondage
and dominion of sin. The situation in which they are called is the
proper illustration of grace, or of supernatural good, and of every spiritual
blessing, the fullness of which resides in Christ — also their power and force,
as well as the inclination to communicate them. The immediate goal of this
calling is, that men may love, fear, honour and worship God and Christ — may in
righteousness and true holiness, according to the command of the word of God,
render obedience to God who calls them, and may, by this means, make their
calling and election sure. The ultimate end is the salvation of those who are
called, and the glory of God and of Christ who calls; both of which are
fulfilled in the union of God and man. For as God unites Himself to man, and
declares Himself to be prepared to unite Himself to him, He makes His own glory
illustrious; and, as man is united to God, he obtains salvation. This call is
both external and internal. The external call is by the ministry of men
propounding the word. The internal call is through the operation of the Holy
Spirit illuminating and affecting the heart, that attention may be paid to those
things which are spoken, and that credence may be given to the word. From the
unity of both these arises the effectiveness of the call. But these actions must
not be thought of as unrelated parts joining but may be understood as parts
which comprise the whole; that is, the concept of the whole act of being called
containing separate activities uniting together to one result, namely, obedience
yielded to the calling. Likewise the company of those who are called and who
answer to the call are also a unified whole called “a Church.” The refusal of
the call, the rejection of the doctrine of grace, contempt of the divine
counsel, and resistance manifested against the Holy Spirit, can be properly
ascribed to the wickedness and hardness of the human heart. This state
frequently invites the just judgment of God which avenges the contempt shown to
His word. Furthermore, from this rejection follows blindness of mind, a further
hardening of the heart, and a progressive delivering up to a reprobate mind, and
to the power of Satan.
benefits, is the gracious act of God. This is through the word and His Spirit.
He calls forth sinful men who are subject to condemnation and under the dominion
of sin due to the condition of natural life, and out of the defilements and
corruptions of this world. They are called to obtain a supernatural life in
Christ through repentance and faith. The goal being to become united with Him,
the life destined and ordained by God, and may enjoy the participation of His
benefits, to the glory of God and to their own salvation. The cause of this
calling is God and the Father in the Son. The Son because He is affirmed
Mediator and King by God the Father, calls men by the Holy Spirit. The Spirit of
God being given and the Spirit of Christ, the King and the Head of His church,
by whom the Father and the Son both “work hitherto.” However, this calling is
so administered by the Spirit, that He also, is properly designated as the
author of it. For He appoints bishops in the church, He sends teachers, He
furnishes them with gifts, He grants them divine aid, and imparts force and
authority to the word. The antecedent or only moving cause is the grace, mercy
and philanthropy of God, by which He is inclined to send relief for the misery
of sinful men, and to bestow blessedness upon him. Nevertheless the primary cause is the wisdom and the justice of God, by which He knows the means
by which it is proper for this call to be sent forth. His will dispenses it in
its proper and right form. The decree of His will determines its administration
and mode. The usual cause of the call is the word of God being administered by
the aid of man, either by preaching or by writing, and this is the usual mode;
or it is the divine word directly sent by God, inwardly to the mind and will,
without human aid or endeavor.
However, this is an uncommon method. The word employed, in both these cases, is
that both of the law and of the gospel, subordinate to each other in their
separate services. Men are called in their sensual life, as worldly, natural,
sensual, and sinful. The conditions in which they are called are both the state
of natural life and that of sin and of misery on account of sin. Consequently
also, from the state of condemnation and guilt, and ultimately from the bondage
and dominion of sin. The situation in which they are called is the
proper illustration of grace, or of supernatural good, and of every spiritual
blessing, the fullness of which resides in Christ — also their power and force,
as well as the inclination to communicate them. The immediate goal of this
calling is, that men may love, fear, honour and worship God and Christ — may in
righteousness and true holiness, according to the command of the word of God,
render obedience to God who calls them, and may, by this means, make their
calling and election sure. The ultimate end is the salvation of those who are
called, and the glory of God and of Christ who calls; both of which are
fulfilled in the union of God and man. For as God unites Himself to man, and
declares Himself to be prepared to unite Himself to him, He makes His own glory
illustrious; and, as man is united to God, he obtains salvation. This call is
both external and internal. The external call is by the ministry of men
propounding the word. The internal call is through the operation of the Holy
Spirit illuminating and affecting the heart, that attention may be paid to those
things which are spoken, and that credence may be given to the word. From the
unity of both these arises the effectiveness of the call. But these actions must
not be thought of as unrelated parts joining but may be understood as parts
which comprise the whole; that is, the concept of the whole act of being called
containing separate activities uniting together to one result, namely, obedience
yielded to the calling. Likewise the company of those who are called and who
answer to the call are also a unified whole called “a Church.” The refusal of
the call, the rejection of the doctrine of grace, contempt of the divine
counsel, and resistance manifested against the Holy Spirit, can be properly
ascribed to the wickedness and hardness of the human heart. This state
frequently invites the just judgment of God which avenges the contempt shown to
His word. Furthermore, from this rejection follows blindness of mind, a further
hardening of the heart, and a progressive delivering up to a reprobate mind, and
to the power of Satan.
—Complete Works of Arminius (This shows Arminius taught the call and
response of sinful men was contingent upon God’s grace wholly and yet deserving
and requiring a corresponding action on the part of the called one. Nevertheless
this response depending on and through indispensable grace and mercy from God Himself. This therefore denies men glory
and God the
blame.)
