The whole body of Christian religion, by Hieron. Zanchius. Translated out of Latine by D. Ralph Winterton.

CHAP. XX. Concerning the Free-will of a man regenerate, and his power unto that which is good.

DOCTRINE I. That those which are justified in Christ, are in him also regenerated, and from him receive power unto all that which is good.

WE believe that as many as are ingrafted into Christ, as they are in him justified, so also they are in him regenerated, and become new creatures, by the participation of his divine nature: and therefore, that they are made free, and receive from Christ himself, as members from the head, and vine branches from the vine, both power to eschew evil, and to follow that which is good: For the Lord him∣self saith it,a 1.1 If the Son shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. And then are we made free, when we are ingrafs;ted into Christ, and regenerated by his Spirit: For the Apostle saith

it,a 1.2 Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is libertie.

DOCT. II. That Christ liveth and worketh in those which are regenerate.

FOr we believe thatb 1.3 Christ liveth in us, as many as are regenerated by his Spirit; and that he liveth not idle, butc 1.4 worketh in us both to will and to do of his good pleasure; and by hisd 1.5 Spirit also helpeth our infirmities.

DOCT. III. That the man regenerate even in actions pertaining to the naturall and hu∣mane life, carries himself more worthily then the unregenerate, and therefore is more free.

SO the regenerate man, besides that he retaineth his will, alwayes free from coaction (as even the unrege∣nerate man himself doth) he doth in all actions pertaining to the naturall and humane life, wherein the man unregenerate hath any power, carry himself farre better, and more worthi∣ly then the unregenerate doth: for∣asmuch as even in these actions he is

moved by the holy Spirit illumina∣ting his understanding, guiding his will and cogitations, and drawing forth actions out of a good fountain, that is, a good heart, and directing them to a good end, that is, to the glorie of God. The holy Apostle teacheth us thus much where he saith,a 1.6 Whether ye eat or drink, or what∣soever ye do, do all to the glorie of God. And therefore even in this kind of actions he is more free then the un∣regenerate; because he is not by his own lusts and concupiscences carried away unto these actions, as the un∣regenerate is: but being moved by the holy Spirit, whatsoever he think∣eth, willeth, worketh, he doth all more circumspectly, more prudently, and more religiously, being alwayes wholly intent upon this, that all may be done to the glorie of God, his own salvation, and the good of his neighbour. For he alwayes keepeth in minde that of the Apostle,b 1.7 None of us liveth himself, and no man dieth to himself.c 1.8 For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live

therefore, or die, we are the Lord's. And therefore he commendeth all his actions to the divine providence, and saith with S^t. Iames, or at least thinketh thus with himself,a 1.9 If the Lord will, I will do this or that, I will go to such a place or such a place; but alwayes, If the Lord will.

DOCT. IV. That for the attaining unto morall vir∣tues also, the regenerate man is more free, and hath more power then the unregenerate.

MOreover, although we confesse that a man unregenerate by Gods especiall aid and assistance may at∣tain unto morall vertues: Yet we be∣lieve that this especiall aid and assi∣stance is farre more excellent in the regenerate, and that for the presence of the holy Spirit, whereby he is illuminated, guided and governed. So that the b Fathers have justly de∣monstrated against the vain boasting of the Gentiles, that even those vir∣tues which they call Morall, are in Christians farre different from those which have been or can be in Infi∣dellsa 1.10

and unbelievers: because in them they are no more but the mere shadowes of virtues, but in true Christians virtues in deed truely so called.

DOCT. V. That for the understanding, choosing and performing the things of God, and which pertain unto his King∣dome, the regenerate man onely is truly illuminated, guided, and go∣verned by the holy Ghost.

BUt we believe that for the under∣standing, choosing and perform∣ing of such things as belong to the true Kingdome of God, the regene∣rate onely are so guided and governed by the Holy Ghost, that they onely understand them, will them, and perform them. For the Apostle saith it,a 1.11 The naturall man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, neither can he know them. But concerning the regenerate man he addeth, c But he that is Spirituall, judgeth, or di∣scerneth, all things, and another place,b 1.12 It is God which worketh in us both to will, and to do, of his good pleasure.d 1.13

DOCT. VI. That the regenerate man is not onely moved by the holy Ghost to work, but is himself also an Agent.

OUt of the writings of the A∣postles, and by other testimonies of the holy Scripture, we are taught, and confesse that the regenerate are so moved by the holy Ghost, that yet themselves also are Agents; and that in them God so worketh both to will and to do, that yet they themselves are those which both will and do. For they are not stocks, or beasts, but men endued with a minde whereby they understand; and a will whereby they will; and whereby they com∣mand other faculties and power both of soul and body, to put in execution those things which are good.

DOCT. VII. That the power of Free-will in the regene∣rate is still infirme and weak; in such sort, that we continually stand in need of Gods fresh supply and assistance, and cannot do all that we would.

BUt, because our regeneration is but onely inchoate or begun, and

not as yet perfect, so that whereas we before were flesh altogether, but now consist partly of Spirit, and partly of flesh, which still fight within us one against the other, in such manner that the good which we would that we cannot do, but do serve with our mind the Law of God, and with the flesh the Law of sin: Therefore we believe, what also we find by expe∣rience, that there is still much sla∣verie in the regenerate; much blind∣nesse in the minde and understand∣ing, much pravitie in the heart and affections, and many weaknesses and infirmities in all the powers of soul and body: So that we dayly stand in need of a new supply of Gods grace, whereby our mindes may be more and more illuminated, our wills cor∣rected and reformed, and our powers to that which is good increased and perfected. And therefore as long as we are here in the flesh, our Free-will is never truely and perfectly free, that is, having by it's self sufficient power to eschew that which is evill, and do that which is good: especially when as the events also of all things are not

in our power, but in the hand of God; and it is further necessarie that all those things come to passe or be done, not what we have thought upon, but whatsoevera 1.14 his hand and his counsell have determined before to be done.

DOCT. VIII. That God doth so rule and govern the mindes and wills of the godly, that even in the conflict of temptations and the flesh he suffereth them not al∣together to fall away from him.

YEt still this we hold, that as many as are truely ingrafted into Christ, they have their mindes and wills en∣dued already with the holy Spirit, and that for Christ his sake they are by God so ruled, governed, and sustained, that although he suffers them to be weakened sundry wayes, and by divers tentations, yet he never suffers themb 1.15 totally and finally to fall away sinking under their tenta∣tions, and so at length perish ever∣lastingly.

DOCT. IX. Errours Condemned.

WE therefore condemne all those, whosoever either deny or exte∣nuate Regeneration, holding that a man regenerate is as impotent, and unable to that which is good; and as mere a slave to sin, as he was before his Regeneration, contrarie to divers and those also most cleare testimonies of Scripture, concerning the freedome of the regenerate from the slaverie of sin, and their freedome also to that which is good, to say nothing of the injurie which is done unto the holy Spirit, which both dwelleth and also worketh in us. And again we con∣demne those which will have a rege∣nerate man so to be freed from all the slaverie of sinne, but he cannot sinne any more at all: We condemne them I say, because they hold that which is contradictorie unto the word of God throughout the whole Scripture, and contrarie also to day∣ly experience: For, although we are not suffered to sin unto death, yet it is most certain that we commit many

sins which of their own nature are worthy of death. Neither do we like their opinion, which in the regene∣rate man do so farre forth extenuate the power of the Spirit, and again do amplifie the reliques of the flesh: that they say, the operation of the Spirit is oftentimes by the strength of the old man quite extinguished; and further teach that even the regenerate man himself may altogether fall a∣way from the grace of God, and so perish everlastingly: Whereas God by his Prophet contradicts them, say∣ing,a 1.16 I will put my feare in their hearts, that they shall not depart from mee: and the Apostle affirmeth thatb 1.17 the foun∣dation of God standeth sure, &c. And again,c 1.18 He which hath begun a good work in you will perform (or finish) it untill the day of Iesus Christ.

Notes

• a 1.1

  Ioh. 8.••6.
• a 1.2

  2 Cor. 3.17.
• b 1.3

  Gal. 2.10.
• c 1.4

  Pila. 13.
• d 1.5

  Rom. 8.36.
• a 1.6

  1 Cor. 10.31.
• b 1.7

  Rom. 14.7.
• c 1.8

  ••.
• a 1.9

  Iam. 4.15.••
• a 1.10

  Ter∣tull. A∣polog. cap. 45. August. contra Iul. Pel. lib. 4. cap. 3. At de Civit. Dei lib. 19. cap. 25. O∣rig contr. Cels.
• a 1.11

  1 Cor. 2.14.
• b 1.12

  15.
• d 1.13

  Phil. 2.13.
• a 1.14

  Act. 4.2••.
• b 1.15

  Ier. 32.40. Luk. 22.32. Rom. 8.35.
• a 1.16

  Ier. 32.40.
• b 1.17

  2 Tim. 2.19.
• c 1.18

  Philip. 1.6.