November 2007 - Protestant Reformed Churches in America

Protestant Reformed Theological Journal
believers. Notwithstanding Perkins’ good intentions, it must be
acknowledged that his doctrine did tend to distress the consciences
of the weak. How shall I know if the works of the Spirit I perceive
to be in me are fruits of “preparation” or “compunction”
If a reprobate can go a certain distance along this preparatory path,
how may I know that I am not a reprobate, fooling myself into
believing that I am on the narrow way, when I could very well
still be on the broad way that leads to destruction (Matt. 7:13) It
was not Perkins’ desire to distress the weak, but to awaken the
presumptuous out of his carnal security. He, therefore, sought to
encourage the sinner who found the smallest sign of grace in himself
to be of good courage. Perkins writes that “the will to become
regenerate … is the effect and testimony of regeneration
begun.” 13 If a man can but desire regeneration he shows by this
that he is already born again and is in a gracious condition. However,
above we have seen that Perkins fails to apply this principle
with consistency, for “some weak and faint desire, some small
obedience” may, if the spark of grace be allowed to go out, be
evidence only of “counterfeit grace.” It must be conceded that
this is better than some later theologians, who, as we shall see,
taught that a sinner can earnestly desire regeneration and yet remain
unregenerate and perish. Others urged sinners to pray to God
for the grace of regeneration, but offered them little hope that
their prayers would be answered. Perkins, in contrast, taught (albeit
inconsistently) that the desires that a man has for faith may
be viewed as the first signs of regeneration:
Mark then … though as yet thou wantest [lackest] firm and lively
grace, yet art thou not altogether void of grace, if thou canst unfeignedly
desire it. Thy desire is the seed, conception or bud of that
which thou wantest. ‘If any man thirst, let him come to me and drink.’ 14
This certainly serves to neutralize some, although not all, of
the poison contained in Perkins’ doctrine of preparatory grace. It
13. Pettit, The Heart, p. 62.
14. Pettit, The Heart, p. 63.
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Vol. 41, No. 1