Cheraw gazette. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1835-1838, 1837-06-28
RELIGIOUS.
REGENERATION.

distinguished Nep- England minister Of
the Gospel, to one in the South.
EXTRACT FROM'LETTER XVII.
Ny DEaR BgoTHER:-
Another important point Of difference
between he modern speculatons and New
England Divinity, relates 10 tie agency
of the Holy Spirit in Regeneration. What
the precise views of the New Haven dl-
vines are, in relation 10 this point, 1t is some
what difficult TO ascertain from their writ
ingS. They have been extensively under
stood to discard the doctrine Of a direct,
immediate divine efficiency; and 10 hold,
that the Holy Spirit never operates on the
mind, bu: through the medium of truth Or
"mo.ives. This doctrine is explicitly main
taincd bv Mr. Fnney in his Sermon cntI-
tied "S:nncrs bound to change their own
hearts," and has been repeatedly avowed
in conversation, by DR.. Beecher. have
also heard DR.. Beecher affirm, that DIR.
Tavlor's views on this subject accorded
with his own. That such are the views OF
the New Haven divincs, seems TO be I'M
piled in much which they have written.
They sav, {Ch Spec. for 1888, P. 1861
Indeed we know Of no Other eiieciuai
hold which this divine agent can have on
me sinner whom he would turn from the
error of his ways, but that which consists
in so bringing the truths of the Bible into
contact with his understanding and moral
sensbil,ies, that he shall voluntarily shun
the threatened evil, and choose the proifer-
cd good" If this language was not in-
tended to convey the idea, that the only
agency which the spirit exerts in regenera.
ton, is so to bring truth or motives before
the mind of the sinner, as to induce orper.
suade him TO turn from the errors of his
wavs: it is impossible TO tell what mean
ing was intended. All heir representations
respecting the suscep'ibilities Of unrcnew-
ed men 10 be influenced by the motives of
the Gospel, and the tendency Of truth when
clearly seen to weaken and suspend the
selfish principle, and produce a change Of
heart, are suited to make the same impress
sion. Still, however, in their review of
DR.. Tyler's Structures, :hey say, ave have
never called in question the doctrine of an
immediate and direct agency of the Holy
Spirit in regeneration" Whether they
meant by this declaration, any thing more,
than that they had never formally, or IN so
mlny words, called this doctrine in question:
or whether they intended TO affirm that 1t
is still an article of their faith, | am unable
to decide. Be this, however, as it may, the
great body of those who profess to adopt
the New Haven views do discard this doc
tr!ne. They deny that The more the sin.
ner sees of God, the more he hates his
character, and that he invariably ress,s ev-
erv motive to holy obedience, till new
moral temper is created or implanted IN his
soul by the power Of the Holy Ghost.
They maintain, with DR.. Beccher and MIR.
Finnev, that the infuecce of the spirit IN
regeneration, is persuasive influence ex-
erred through the medium Of truth or mo:
tivcs. This, therefore, may be regarded
as prominent article of the New Divinity.
That this is utterly at varience with the
views Of our Standard New England dl.
vines, is what shall now attempt TO show.
PRESIDENT EDWARDS" Observe that
the question with some is, whether the splr-
it of God does any thing at all in these
davs. since the scriptures have been COM
pleted. with those that allow that he does
any thing, the question cannot be, whether
his influence be immediate; for if he does
any thing at all, his influence must be 'mme-
>" The Apostle says,-'ln whom
We are circumsised with the CIRCUMCISION
made without hands, in putting of the body
of the sins of the flesh, by the clrcumscl.
sion of Christ This phrase. made wtfh.
om hands, in scripture, always denotes
Gods immediate power, above the course
of nature, above second causes. There
are two things relating to the doctrine OF
eilicacous grace, wherein lies the main
difference between controversalists about
TO this doctrine. First, that the grace
of God is determining and decisive as
70 the conversion of sinner, or a mans
te;o ling good man, and having those
yirtuous qualifications that en,nle TO an
interest IN Christ and his salvation. Sc.
condly, That the power and grace and op-
Grafton Of the Holy Spirit, in, or towards,
The conversion of sinner, is immediate;
that the habit of true virtue or holiness is
Immediately implanted or infused; that the
operation goes so far, tha; a man has ha-
bi,ual holiness given to him instantly, Who'll.
" by the operation Of the spirit Of God,
and not gradually by assistance concurIng
with our endcavours. p" According to Dr.
Wbtb;'s notion of the assistance of the
Spirit, the spirit of God does nothing in
the hearts or minds Of men beyond the
power of the devil; nothing but what the
devil can do; and nothing showing any
greater power in any respect, than TIE de-
vii shows and exercises in his temptations.
For he supposes, that all that the Spirit Of