in theology, a continuance in a state of grace to a state of glory.

About this subject there has been much controversy in the Christian church. All divines, except Unitarians, admit, that no man can ever be in a state of grace without the cooperation of the spirit of God; but the Calvinists and Arminians differ widely as to the nature of this cooperation. The former, at least such as call themselves the true disciples of Calvin, believe, that those who are once under the influence of divine grace can never fall totally from it, or die in mortal sin. The Arminians, on the other hand, contend, that the whole of this life is a state of probation; that without the grace of God we can do nothing that is good; that the Holy Spirit assists, but does not overpower, our natural faculties; and that a man, at any period of his life, may relapse, grieve, and even quench, the spirit. See THEOLOGY.