Of all fhe doctrines of the Bible none is so offensiye to human nature as the doctrine of God's soyereigniy. To be told that Gtod is great, and just, and boly, and pure, man can bear. But to be told that '^ he hath merqr on whom He will have mercy," — ^that He **giveth no account of His matters," — ^that it is '^not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that show- eth mercy," — ^these are truths that natural man cannot stand. They often call forth all his enmity against Gk)d, and M him with wrath. Nothing, in short, will make him sub- mit to them but the humbling teaching of the Holy Ghost.
Let us settle it in our minds that, whether we like it or not, the sovereignty of God is a doctrine clearly re- vealed in the Bible, and a fact clearly to be seen in the world. Upon no other principle can we ever explain why some members of a family are converted, and others live and die in sin, — ^why some quarters of the earth are enlightened by Christianity, and others remain buried in heathenism. One account only can be given of all this. All is ordered by the sovereign hand of God. Let us pray for humility in respect of this deep thing. Let us remember that our life is but a vapour, and that our best knowledge compared to that of God is perfect folly. Let us be thankful for such light as we enjoy ourselves, and use it diligently while we have it. And let us not doubt that at the last day the whole world shall be con- vinced, that He who now '^ gives no account of His mat- ters " has done all Ihings well.
We learn, lastly, from this passage, how diligently toe ought to persevere in weU doing, notwithstanding discourage- ments. We are doubtless meant to draw this lesson from
TaVKE, CHAP. rv. VER. 22 — 32. 123
flie conduct of our Lord, after His rejection at Nazareth. Kothing moved by the treatment He received, He patiently works on. Thrust out of one place. He passes on to another. Cast forth from Nazareth He comes to Capernaum, and there '^ teaches on the sabbath days.''
Such ought to be the conduct of all the people of Christ. Whatever the work they are called to do, they should patiently continue in it, and not give up for want of success. Whether preachers, or teachers, or visitors, or missionaries, they must labour on and not faint. There is often more stirring in the hearts and con- sciences of people than those who teach and preach to tiiem are at all aware of. There is preparatory work to be done in many a part of God's vineyard, which is just as needful as any other work, though not so agreeable to flesh and blood. There must be sowers as well as reapers. There must be some to break up the ground and pick out the stones, as well as some to gather in the harvest. Let each labour on in his own place. The day comes when each shall be rewarded according to his wk. The very diacoTiragements we meet with enable US to show the world that there are such things as fsdth and patience. When men see us working on, in spite of treatment like that which Jesus met at Nazareth, it makes them think. It convinces them that, at all events, we are persuaded that we have truth on our side.
Notes. Lttkm IV. 22—32.
22 — [Bare him witness.] The meaning of this appears to be that they could not deny the truth, correctness, and reasonableness of what He said.
[JosqtKs son,'] This expression shows us in what light our
^^