Chapter 12 - Faith in the Holy Ghost
Our faith and its assurance do not proceed from flesh and blood, that is to say, from
natural powers within us, but are the inspiration of the Holy Ghost; whom we confess to be
God, equal with the Father and with his Son, who sanctifies us, and brings us into all
truth by his own working, without whom we should remain forever enemies to God and
ignorant of his Son, Christ Jesus. For by nature we are so dead, blind, and perverse, that
neither can we feel when we are pricked, see the light when it shines, nor assent to the
will of God when it is revealed, unless the Spirit of the Lord Jesus quicken that which is
dead, remove the darkness from our minds, and bow our stubborn hearts to the obedience of
his blessed will. And so, as we confess that God the Father created us when we were not,
as his Son our Lord Jesus redeemed us when we were enemies to him, so also do we confess
that the Holy Ghost does sanctify and regenerate us, without respect to any merit
proceeding from us, be it before or after our regeneration. To put this even more plainly;
as we willingly disclaim any honor and glory from our own creation and redemption, so do
we willingly also for our regeneration and sanctification; for by ourselves we are not
capable of thinking one good thought, but he who has begun the work in us alone continues
us in it, to the praise and glory of his undeserved grace.
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