The Formula of Concord: the will passive in the kindling of new motions
Thesis XX. The Book of Concord comes to the same thing in the Epitome of the articles in controversy among the theologians of the Augsburg Confession, toward the end of the chapter on free choice. 'Luther's statement,' it says, 'that in conversion the human will is purely passive must be taken rightly and properly, that is, with respect to divine grace in kindling new impulses. It refers to the moment when the Spirit of God, through the word heard or through the use of the sacraments, lays hold of a person's will and works conversion and new birth in him.
Once the Holy Spirit has worked and accomplished this, and by his divine power and working alone has changed and renewed the person's will, then that new will really is the Holy Spirit's instrument and organ: it not only lays hold of grace but also works together with the Holy Spirit in the deeds that follow.
Before a person's conversion, then, only two efficient causes remain that are effective for conversion: the Holy Spirit, and God's word, the Holy Spirit's instrument by which he brings about conversion. A person must certainly hear this word, but he cannot by any strength of his own manage to embrace it with true faith; that comes only by the grace and working of the Holy Spirit.'
Latin
XX. Huc redit quod habet liber Concordiae in Epitome articulorum de quibus controversiae ortae sunt inter Theologos Augustanae confessionis capite de libero arbitrio sub finem. Quod, inquit, Lutherus scripsit, hominis voluntatem in conversione pure passive se habere: id recte & dextre est accipiendum, videlicet, respectu divinae gratiae in accendendis novis motibus. Hoc est, de eo intelligi oportet, quando spiritus Dei per verbum auditum, aut per usum sacramentorum hominis voluntatem aggreditur, & conversionem ac regenerationem in homine operatur. Postquam enim Spiritus Sanctus hoc ipsum jam operatus est, atque effecit, hominisque voluntatem sola sua divina virtute & operatione immutavit atque renovavit: tunc revera hominis nova illa voluntas instrumentum est & organum Spiritus Sancti, ut ea non modo gratiam apprehendat, verum etiam in operibus sequentibus Spiritui Sancto cooperetur. Relinquuntur igitur ante conversionem hominis duae tantum efficientes causae ad conversionem efficaces, nimirum Spiritus Sanctus & verbum Dei, quod est instrumentum Spiritus Sancti, quo conversionem hominis efficit. Hoc verbum homo certe audire debet: sed tamen ut illud ipsum vera fide amplectatur, id nequaquam suis viribus propriis, sed sola gratia & operatione Spiritus Sancti obtinere potest.