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I've been fascinated by the history of the usage of "common grace" to get around all sorts of sturdy doctrine, not the least of which is garbling Calvin on the subject. Here are two informative links:

Abraham Kuyper, Developer and Promoter of Common Grace

"But Kuyper's motivation for developing the doctrine of common grace was not solely theological; it was also very practical. For one thing, he sought to answer the growing effects of modernism in the church-world. He noted that modernism had a broad vision of the world and for the world, but that this vision was grounded in humanistic rationalism. He wanted the Reformed faith to have the same broad vision, but to be grounded in the sovereign work of God. Common grace gave him the answer, he thought. Further, Kuyper had become involved in a political career in the Netherlands and needed some justification for his programs and for his cooperation with other religious and secular groups in these programs..."

"Political"??? I'm shocked, I say, shocked! Can't we all just get along?

Another excellent link which offers more historical background...

THE MYTH OF COMMON GRACE

Between Van Til and Clark, this Presbyterian takes Van Til any day.

In looking through a number of articles on "common grace" it appears there are various interpretations for this term. I would agree with the article you posted on Van Til and would say that common grace should never be misconstrude for salvation's call. I might be wrong but I don't think this is the author's intent nor did I read it this way.

That being said I do think there is Biblical evidence of what I would say is God's benevolence. One of many examples for this would be God staying the hand of Abimelech in Gen 20 against him having relationships with Sarah. It was God's grace that He did not kill Abimelech. God states clearly that He "kept [Abimelech] from sinning" (ver 6). Abimelech was not a believer nor is there any evidence that he ever had faith. There was no asking Abimelech to turn to God or an offer of salvation. Just God's asking Abimelech to have Abraham pray for him so that he would live. As we see in Gen 22 Abimelech clearly shows that he never placed his faith in God even after this experience.

BTW-One has to wonder WHY people wouldn't turned to God if God popped in and state that He's going to kill you. Of course only Calvinists have this figured out. ;O)