James Foote
I am quite aware that to say that effectual calling always prevails is to repeat the same thing in different words. The idea, however, of the certain effectiveness of this call by the Spirit is of such importance as to deserve to be considered by itself. There is a sense in which the divine call not only may be resisted, but actually is. The carnal mind is ever enmity against God and always opposed to His will. The call therefore – the command to turn and believe and obey – is contrary to the carnal mind, which struggles against it. “Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears,” said Stephen to the unbelieving Jews, “ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.” That is, they resisted the Holy Ghost speaking to them by the prophets.
There is a sense, however, in which the divine call is irresistible – that is, it cannot be effectively resisted and is at last altogether unresisted. That is the case when the special grace of God is given to a sinner whom He has determined to bring under the influence of the truth. Yet even in the mind of such a person there may be for some time a struggle against the light. But when the set time to favour him has come, all his opposition gives way before the constraining influence of divine grace. God’s word then does not return void, but it accomplishes that which He pleases and prospers in the thing whereto He sent it.
Effective, however, as the power of God then proves, no restraint is felt by those who are the subjects of it. It works in a way adapted to their mental constitution and rational nature; it gains their consent as it satisfies their understanding. Indeed the very word called implies the consent of the will – their voluntary submission. Hence no one ever regretted that he had been prevailed on to submit.
Though all the believers on earth and all the saints in heaven were assembled and examined, not one of them would complain that any violence had been done to his freedom, or regret that he had not been able to make effective resistance. But every one of them would thankfully and joyfully declare that he was made willing in the day of God’s power, that he was drawn with cords of a man and bands of love, that the love of Christ constrained him, that nothing could be conceived more delightful than to yield.
1Taken, with editing, from Foote’s Treatise on Effectual Calling. Foote (1781-1856) was a minister in Aberdeen, latterly in the Free Church. Last month’s section spoke of the varied circumstances in which effectual calling takes place.
Each would also declare that after a certain point in his progress, he felt it impossible for him not to yield, and was made so willing that yielding required no effort. In every instance then in which the Lord begins to deal with a soul, with a purpose of saving it, He is sure to carry His object; for “who hath resisted His will?” Here, as in everything else, His counsel stands, and He does all His pleasure.
Now, this consideration is calculated to encourage those who may begin to feel some desire to submit to the Lord, but who also feel that they have no power to bend their hearts aright. Because of their inability, they may be ready to regard their salvation as almost hopeless, for they are here taught that their hearts are in the hand of the Lord, who can turn them, like the rivers of water, wherever He wills. But they are also taught that, if they can get Him engaged to help them, the issue will certainly be favourable.
What an encouragement this also is to persevere in addressing the outward call to sinners in the invitations of the gospel! Otherwise we might well despair of effecting any good. But persuaded of this, how can we despair? Even if we have long called to many in vain, and if our words are but feeble breath, and of ourselves we can do nothing; yet is anything too hard for God? Can anything stand before Him? Is there any mental obstruction which His grace cannot readily remove? Assured then that, when He begins to work, He will work effectually, we can go on with confidence in the face of every difficulty, remembering the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: “Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts. Who art thou, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and He shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it.”