03-01-2008, 09:44 AM
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 | Puritanboard Professor | | Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Clinton, MS
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Quote:
Originally Posted by AV1611  As an aside, what do you think about personal covenanting as advocated by William Guthrie? Q. 13 How shall I be sure that my heart does accept of God's offer, and does close with Christ Jesus? .
A. Go make a covenant expressly, and by word speak the thing unto God. Q. 14 What way shall I do that?
A. Set apart some portion of time, and, having considered your own lost estate, and the remedy offered by Christ Jesus, work up your heart to be pleased and close with that offer, and say unto God expressly that you do accept of that offer, and of Him to be your God in Christ; and do give up yourself to Him to be saved in His way, without reservation or exception in any case; and that you henceforth will wait for salvation in the way He has appointed. | I think you need to remember a fundamental assumption in Guthries argument which he hasn't stated. He assumes it is the Spirit of God bringing this person to this point of making a covenant. In these questions he is assuming the man has been regenerate and just needs direction as to how to gain assurance. At least that's how I am understanding this. He's not calling a dead unbeliever to do any of this in his own strength. This is how effectual calling works. Psychologically, we are turning our hearts to Christ. But we understand that it is the renewing grace of the Spirit enabling us to do that. He doesn't save us against our will but renews our will so that we desire him. 
__________________
Patrick
OPC
MDiv, RTS Jackson.
"He does well, that discourses of Christ; but he does infinitely better, that by experimental knowledge, feeds and lives on Christ." Thomas Brooks.
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