November 2007 - Protestant Reformed Churches in America

Preparatory Grace in the Puritans
simply the child of God who is broken-hearted over his sins, who
is “poor in spirit” (Matt. 5:3), who “mourns” over his sins (Matt.
5:4), and who “hungers” after righteousness (Matt. 5:6). In other
words, he is “blessed” and a member of the kingdom of heaven
(Matt. 5:3-11). None of those spiritual characteristics are ever
found in an unregenerate person. God will not snuff out that smoking
flax, although much imperfection (smoke) remains in him.
E. Preparationism Destroys Assurance and Breeds Despair
The doctrine of preparationism is desperately depressing. It
robs the child of God of his assurance. As Pettit states it,
if contrition and humiliation are not in themselves signs of grace …
how can one ever have assurance of faith Far from being a comfortable
doctrine, it was bound to lead to despair. 86
It must lead there. Do I have sorrow over my sins Do I
earnestly seek after Christ Do I hunger and thirst after righteousness
Do I have a deep sense of my sin and a desire for
deliverance Do I believe in Jesus Christ and trust in Him alone
for my righteousness All of the above may be merely signs of
“preparatory grace,” not regeneration itself. Reprobates may come
that far.
Do I feel my need for salvation, and am I earnestly seeking to
be found in Christ (Phil. 3:9). If so, the Scriptures assure me
that I am regenerate. The preparationists put obstacles in my way.
Perhaps I am not humbled enough. Perhaps I have not experienced
enough conviction. Perhaps I hate my sins, but only “unsoundly.”
The preparationists depict unregenerate sinners lying
at the feet of Jesus, pleading with Him to regenerate them. Although
the probability is high that such sinners will be saved (a
greater possibility than those who completely neglect the means
of grace), yet they offer no guarantee:
Yet all were told, at the same time, that no matter how much they
prepared, no matter how thoroughly they searched beneath the sur-
86. Pettit, The Heart Prepared, p. 19.
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