'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — December 12

When any soul is converted, there is the concurrence of all three persons in the Trinity. This is a subject of great moment. At the drawing of the heart to close with Christ, there is a special counsel called. The Father draws, the Son accepts, and the Holy Spirit is the instrument of both. He gives life to the heart. This is a matter of infinite wonder. There are four stages in this great counsel. The first was from everlasting at our election, in which all three persons had a hand. The next was at our redemption when Jesus Christ was ordained the Son of God, and at his baptism the Father owned him and the Spirit descended like a dove upon him. The third is found the very moment that faith is given to the sinner. Lastly, there is the counsel in heaven when God and all three persons of the Trinity shall live in believers for evermore. The souls of all believers were given to Christ from everlasting (John 17:6). When you believed, God the Father rose up in heaven, as I may so express it, and said: 'Son, yonder is a soul which I have given you from everlasting, which you died upon the cross for; now is the fullness of time for you to have mercy upon him; go take him and own him for your own, and now actually possess him.' The Father likewise whispers to the heart of the sinner and woos him to come to Christ. It might be you are standing in a crowd or at home where you are weeping in your lost condition, and the Father calls. We come to the Father through the Son, being led by the Spirit. Thus we come to have communion with all three persons. The Father directs by secret providence the time and place, and the Holy Spirit draws us to Jesus Christ. This is no slight thing. Do not think you can believe and repent at will. Follow now when the Spirit moves you, and magnify the free grace of God in calling you.

Devotional Readings taken from Puritan Devotional Readings 'Voices From The Past Vol.1.'
Thomas Goodwin, Justifying Faith, pp. 144-152
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