"Though after all it seems plain, that the ministry of the word is the vehicle in which the Spirit of God conveys himself and his grace into the hearts of men; which is done when the word comes not in word only, but in power, and in the Holy Ghost; and works effectually, and is the power of God unto salvation; then faith comes by hearing, and ministers are instruments by whom, at least, men are encouraged to believe: "received ye the Spirit", says the apostle, "by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith": (Gal. 3:2), that is, by the preaching of the law, or by the preaching of the gospel? by the latter, no doubt." ("Regeneration" in Body of Divinity)
This is found in Gill's Body of Divinity which many Hardshells, beginning with Elder John R. Daily, affirmed taught against the Gospel means position. Many Hardshells argue that Gill changed his mind on this subject. They admit that Gill taught the use of means in regeneration throughout his commentary on the Scriptures but say that he denied it in his Body of Divinity, and represented a change of views from his earlier work. However, the above citation shows this not to be the case. In fact, the above citation is from that section on "Regeneration" where Hardshells say that Gill denied the use of means. But, anyone without a bias can plainly see that Gill taught that "the ministry of the word is the vehicle in which the Spirit of God conveys himself and his grace into the hearts of men."
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