# Synodical Conference Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1882_S11
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

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assertion that the doctrine of free will and of conversion has nothing to do with the controversy that had broken out, and rejected it as something thoroughly improper to draw this doctrine into the dispute over election. In the end, however, he himself had to concede that the doctrine of free will and of conversion stands in the closest connection with the doctrine of election, and indeed that in the article of free will and of conversion lies the real point of difference in the present controversy. For so we read, in plain and clear words, in the paper edited by Prof. Schmidt, "Altes und Neues" [Old and New], vol. 1882, page 184: "The real point of difference between us and the Missourians is this: Missouri asserts that the abstaining from wilful, stiff-necked resistance, as far as the act of conversion is concerned, is grace." Further, ibid., page 189: "Hunnius also writes" — with us, the opponents of Missouri — "the abstaining from wilful, stiff-necked resistance is to be ascribed to man." Finally, ibid., p. 190: "Missouri teaches, like the Calvinists, that God also overcomes the wilful resistance ... in the act of conversion, gives them faith and preserves it, and now in this respect sets, for these persons, the cause of their salvation in God." More plainly no synergist has ever come out with his error than Prof. Schmidt does with these declarations. According to Prof. Schmidt's doctrine even a man wicked above others can, from his own natural powers, change his wicked heart, and by virtue of his free will give up his wilful resistance against the inner grace of conversion, that is, himself remove out of the way what hinders his conversion, himself "do away" the "bar" [Riegel], as the Scholastics once said, change his unwillingness into willingness by himself, thus decide for his own conversion and so himself become the decisive cause of his salvation. For all this, according to Prof. Schmidt's doctrine, the unconverted man needs no grace; indeed, those who ascribe all this to the grace of God teach, according to him, "like the Calvinists!"

That this doctrine is contrary to Scripture and to the Confessions needs no proof. As to its contradicting Scripture, we recall only the following passages: "The imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth." (Gen. 8:21.) "Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ (by grace ye are saved)." (Eph. 2:5.) "It is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure." (Phil. 2:13.) "Turn thou me, and I shall be turned." (Jer. 31:18.) "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works,