He acts as a Sovereign ; but He acts with infinite mercy. He often chooses those who seem most unlikely to do His will, and furthest off from His kingdom. He draws them to Himself with almighty power, breaks the chains of old habits and customs, and makes them new creatures. As the loadstone attracts the iron, and the south wind softens the frozen ground, so does Christ's calling draw sinners out from the world, and melt the hardest heart. " The voice of the Lord is mighty in operation." Blessed are they, who, when they hear it, harden not their hearts !
We ought never to despair entirely of any one's salva- tion, when we read this passage of Scripture. He who call- ed Levi, still lives and still works. The age of miracles is not yet past. The love of money is a powerful prin- ciple, but the call of Christ is more powerful. Let us not despair even about those who " sit at the receipt of custom," and enjoy abundance of this world's good things. The voice which said to Levi, " Follow me," may yet reach their hearts. We may yet see them arise, and take up their cross, and follow Christ. Let us hope continu- ally, and pray for others. Who can tell what God may be going to do for any one around us ? No one is too bad for Christ to call. Let us pray for all.
We learn, for another thing, from these verses, that one of Christ 's principal offices is that of a Physician. The Scribes and Pharisees found fault with Him for eating and drinking with publicans and sinners. But " when Jesus heard it, He saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick."