Calvinists, that "being saved by grace," is at all inconsistent with "working out our own salvation;" or that "the grace of God does in any wise force 'them to be saved: "for it is God, that worketh "in us, both to will and to do of his good pleasure:" The grace of God in Christ preventing us, that we may have a good will and working with us 'when we have that good will."- Grace,' or undeserved mercy, concurred, so to speak, with infinite wisdom, in forming the glorious plan of salvation. Grace promised the Saviour to fallen man: grace sent the divine Saviour, and "delivered him up," as a willing Sacrifice, "for us all :" grace raised the Saviour from the dead, and placed him on the mediatorial throne: grace sent us "the word of the "truth of the gospel ;" "God hath not dealt thus "with every nation :" grace quickened us, when dead in sin: "we are justified freely by the grace "of God:" by grace we are sanctified: and grace will put every heir of God in full possession of his eternal inheritance. Is there one link, (so to speak) in this chain, which any man will deliberately ascribe to human merit, or human efforts, or to any thing, except the unmerited mercy and favour of God alone?

2

P. xl. 1. 23. The Spirit, &c.3 It is evident, that

3" The Spirit helpeth our infirmities, for we know not what "we should pray for as we ought;" the Spirit helps, but does

not compel us; it supplies the deficiency of our natural strength,

by suggesting what is right, and by assisting our weakness in performing it. The Greek word σurartiñajelaveral expresses the

the apostle is not here speaking of unconverted meri; but of himself and his fellow-christians. Though by nature" without strength;" by grace they had some strength, but this was attended with many infirmities, by reason of "sin, which dwelleth in "them." But the Spirit helped them against these infirmities. "That which is born of the Spirit," is spirit; and with "that which is born of God," the Holy Spirit co-operates, to render it victorious: but not with the unrenewed hearts of sinners, or with the flesh, which will never concur and co-operate in its own crucifixion. To the quotation from Doddridge, I shall add another quotation more fully to shew his meaning. We are surrounded with so 'much ignorance and prejudice, that in many in'stances, "we do not know what to pray for as we "ought;" because we know not, on the whole, 'what may be best for us. But the Spirit itself manages all these affairs for us, guiding our minds 'to suitable petitions, and exciting in them correspondent affections; and sometimes inspiring us 'with that ardour of holy desire, which no words can express, but must therefore vent themselves in 'unutterable groanings.' For ever adored be the

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'co-operation for which we contend, more clearly than the English word "helpeth." "It literally expresses, says Dod. dridge, the action of one who helps another to bear a burden, by taking hold of it on one side, and lifting or bearing it with "him; and so it seems to intimate the obligation on us to exert "our little strength, feeble as it is, in concurrence with his "Almighty aid."

• Rom. v. 6.

2 Dod. Par. on Rom. viii, 26.

G

'divine goodness, in sending down his Spirit on 'such sinful creatures, to help our infirmities, to 'implant, and excite graces in our hearts, to be a source of perfect delights, and our eternal happi'ness.'1

Some exhortations are next adduced; to which very many more might be added, which prove, that "some approach towards God on the part of man, 'some exertion of their own will, is necessary to 'obtain the effectual assistance' of God. I trust, that the Evangelical clergy are not remarkably deficient in enforcing these exhortations: nay, I must confidently aver, that they, as a body, abound above others in doing this: and that, they would not be so generally disapproved, did they not thus "testify " of the world," (though called christian, as our Lord did of the world, as called Jews,) that the "works of it are evil;"2 and did they not, by such addresses to the consciences of their hearers, with a plainness which often offends, shew, that the profession of christianity will never save from eternal damnation those, who refuse to comply with these exhortations.

P. xli. 1. 27. The purification, &c." "Ye have "purified your souls." This was, not only in part, but entirely, their own act. The act of the Holy Spirit consisted, in 'enlightening their minds, stir

Dod. Improvement on Rom. viii.

2 John vii. 7.

3 The purification of the souls of these christians was in part owing to their own act in obeying the truth, through the assist " ance of the Spirit.',

See on 33 Refutation. Jam. iv. S.

1 Pet. i. 22.

ing up their wills, and aiding and prospering their "endeavours. If any, whether Calvinists or others, suppose, that the influence of the Holy Spirit supersedes our own labour, they doubtless have unscriptural views on the subject.

P. xlii. l. 13. The same The same apostle, &c,11 The original word, rendered communion, signifies parti cipation, or copartnership, joint communication, or mutual intercourse. In none of the texts referred to, does the idea of co-operation, in the sense here

The same apostle prays for "the communion of the Holy "Ghost;" and both the Greek and English words imply the ⚫ most intimate co-operation, and signify that the graces and virtues, on which salvation depends, are the joint or common operation of the supernatural power of the Holy Ghost, and of 'the natural power of man; that the Holy Ghost acts with men, ' in such manner that their separate or respective parts cannot be perceived or distinguished.'

* 2 Cor. xiii. 14.

3 Kowaride (a nowos) Communio, communitas, consortium, societas, communicatio, participatio.-Officium charitatis. (Hederic.) In Acts ii. 42. 1 Cor. i. 9. Gal. ii. 9. Phil. i. 5. ii. 1. iii. 10. 1 John i. 3. 6, 7, it is translated fellowship. In Rom. xv. 26, contribution. Heb. xiii. 16, to communicate.-Kovavog. Cui est communitas, socius, particeps. (Hederic.) Luke. v. 7-10. 2 Cor. viii. 23. Philem. 17. Partner, or, partners.-Matt. xxiii. 30. 1 Cor. x. 18. 2 Cor. i. 7. Phil. i. 7. 1 Pet. v. 1. 2 Pet. i. 4. Par takers. Philem. 6, communication. Heb. x. 33, companions.Kowano. In commune venio, commune aliquid habeo, particeps sum, communico: consentio cum aliquo': sacræ cœnæ particeps fio. (He- ̈ deric.) Rom. xii. 13. Gal. vi. 6. Phil. iv, 15. Communicate, Rom. xv. 27, made partakers. 1 Tim. v. 22, be partaker. Heb. ii. 14. 1 Pet. iv. 13, are partakers. 2 John 11, is partaker.-Σdynaivaros, Rom. xi. 17. 1 Cor. ix. 23. Phil. i. 7. Rev. i. 9, partakers. Zvýxoivævew, Zvykovovi, Rev. xviii: 4 be partakers. Eph. v. 11, have fellowship.-Konwrixes, 1 Tim. vi. 18, willing to communicate.

2

intended, at all appear; the original words, which are uniformly employed to convey that idea, are Συνεργεω, and Συνεργος. The word Συνεργεία, co-operation, is not found in the New Testament: and in all the places, in which God and man are spoken of, as co-operating, the salvation of others, not of the person or persons, thus working together with God, is uniformly meant. In this case God is the Agent; and men are his willing instruinents, aiming to promote his cause in the world, and using the appointed means of doing this, which he renders successful by his effectual operation.3-In the text, under consideration, the apostle was not speaking of any thing, in which co-operation was required; but praying that "the grace of the Lord Jesus, the love of the "Father, and the communion," (or participation with other christians,) " of the Holy Spirit," the Comforter, might be with all those, to whom he wrote. He was not exhorting them to any duty; so that there could be no call on them to co-operate, except by adding a fervent Amen to his prayer for them.

When the apostle said, "I fill up that which is "behind of the afflictions of Christ, in my flesh,

Evepysa, Mark xvi. 20. Rom. viii. 28. 1 Cor. xvi. 16. 2 Cor. vi. 1. Jam. ii. 22. Gr. Evrspyos, Rom. xvi. 3. 9. translated helpers and helper. 21, work-fellow. 1 Cor. iii. 9, labourers together. 2 Cor. i. 24, helpers. viii. 23, fellow-helper. Phil. ii. 25, companion in labour. Col. iv. 11, fellow-workers. 1 Thes. iii. 2. Philem. 1. 24, fellow-labourers. 3 John 8, fellow-helpers.

2 Mark xvi. 20. 1 Cor. iii. 9. 2 Cor. vi. 1.. xv. 4. Rom. xv. 18.

Acts xiv. 27.