Theological Theses · §2633 · Louis Le Blanc de Beaulieu

Testard, Amyraut and Camero's followers: grace works by persuading the mind

Thesis LI. Paulus Testardus, Moses Amyraldus and the others who follow Camero's method and teaching on grace hold that the efficacy of God's grace, which turns a person to God, plants faith in Christ in him and sets his heart on fire with love for God, works like this. The saving truth set out in the Gospel is presented to the mind in a certain way, and the Spirit's hidden power so shapes the mind from within that the person comes to be utterly and effectively convinced of that truth.

He concludes that nothing is better, and nothing does more to bring a person to true happiness, than holding fast to Christ and obeying his Gospel. On their premise the will must follow where the practical intellect leads and what it judges, so the will takes up the saving good that the Gospel offers and the intellect points out, and grasps it eagerly. Turned away from empty and earthly things, it turns wholly to God, and in this its renewal and sanctification consist.

Latin

LI. Nam Paulus Testardus, & Moses Amyraldus, aliique qui cum iis in gratiae negotio Cameronis Methodum & doctrinam sequuntur, efficaciam gratiae divinae, quae hominem ad Deum convertit, eique fidem in Christum ingenerat, & Dei amore cor illius accendit, in eo consistere docent, quod salutaris veritas in Evangelio proposita eo modo menti offeratur, & arcana virtute spiritus mens intus ita disponatur, ut homo firmissimam & efficacissimam veritatis illius persuasionem inde concipiat, statuatque nihil melius, & ad veram beatitudinem obtinendam conducibilius, quam ut quis Christo adhaereat, & Evangelio illius obsequatur. Unde fit ut voluntas, quae ex eorum hypothesi, necessario sequitur ductum & judicium intellectus practici, bonum illud salutare per Evangelium oblatum, & ab intellectu monstratum suscipiat, atque avide complectatur: & sic a rebus vanis & terrenis aversa tota convertatur ad Deum, qua in re consistit ejus innovatio & sanctificatio.

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