Lehre und Wehre St. Louis, Missouri — Juli 1905, Seite 300

German transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

Cited in Eckhardt's Reallexikon (1907) under: Analogie 14 · Berufung · Gnade 3 · Gnadenwahl · Gnadenwahl — Sedes 3 · Gnadenwahl— Die Verlorengehenden 28 · Kirchengemeinſchaften 3

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300 Die Prädestination nach der Westminster Confession of Faith.

3. Der Schriftbeweis des Westminster⸗Bekenntnisses für
die zweifache Art der Berufung. In der Ausführung des einmal
aufgestellten Systems wird endlich in Cap. Xconsequent weiter geschlossen:
Nur die zum ewigen Leben Prädestinirten will Gott auch durch sein Wort
und seinen Geist wirksam berufen. Die andern, die nicht erwählt sind,
mögen wohl auch etliche allgemeine Wirkungen des Geistes erfahren, aber sie
kommen nie wirklich zu Christo und können darum auch nicht selig werden.“)
Im Larger Oatechism heißt es zwar: All the elect, and they only, are
effectually called; although others may be and often are outwardly
called by the ministry of the word, and have some common opera-
tions of the Spirit, who for their willful neglect and contempt of the
grace offered to them, being justly left in their unbelief, do never
truly come to Christ.“ ?) Aber wie kann der Relatiysatz ernst gemeint
sein, wenn doch die Verlorengehenden überhaupt nicht erlöst sind?

Was in den betreffenden Sätzen des Bekenntnisses gesagt ist, wird noch
deutlicher durch die folgenden Darlegungen: EHoπ manfold is the divine
calling? Twofold: ouνrt⁴rd by the word, and iπεοονd by the Spirit.
What is the oùuτtν⁰οαrd call by the word? It is the free and unlimited
invitation given, in the dispensation of the gospel, to all the hearers
of it, to receive Christ, and salvation with him. IS. 55, 1. Rev. 22, 7.
What is the nard call by the Spirit? It is the Spirit accοα½mpany-
ing the outward call with power and efficacy upon the soul. John
6, 45. Which of these is effectual in bringing sinners to Christ?
The inward call by the Spirit; for it is the Spirit that quickeneth,
John 6, 63. The outward call by the word is of itself ineffectual;
for many are called, but few are chosen.“ Matt. 22, 14.“ ) „The
common call will not unite us to Christ. (Matt. 22, 14.) It is in
our effectual calling that this is done. (1 Cor. 1, 9.) ⸗Whom he
called, them he also justified.' (Rom. 8, 30.) .. . There is an ex-
ternal and general call of providence, and especially of the word,
by which all sinners are freely invited to Christ, that they may have
life and salvation by him. (See Ps. 19, 1. Micah 6, 9. ISĩ. 55, 1.
Rev. 22, 17. Matt. 20, 16. 22, 3.) This outward call sbows men
what they ought to do in order to obtain salvation, and renders them
inexcusable in case of disobedience. Effectual calling is the internal
call of the Spirit, accompanying the outward call with saving power
and efficacy upon the soul. (John 6, 45. 63. Matt. 22, 14. 2 Thess.
2, 13. 14. 2 Cor. 3, 3. 6. Rom. 8, 2. 2 Tim. 1, 9. 10. Eph. 2, 1—5.)
With this calling sanctification is inseparably connected. It is a
holy calling. (2 Tim. I, 9. 1 Pet. 1, 15. 2, 9. Gal. 1, 6.) The out-

1) Ch. X. I, IV. 2) p. 177.
3) Fisher's Catechism, p. 168.

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