letters of gold. They have probably l^een the salvation of myriads of souls. Multitudes wiU thank God to all eternity that the Bible contains this story of the peni- tent thief.
We see, firstly, in the history before us, the sovereignty of God in saving sinners. We are told that two male- factors were crucified together with our Lord, one on His right hand and the other on His left. Both were equally near to Christ. Both saw and heard all that happened, during the six hours that He hung on the cross. Both were dying men, and suffering acute pain. Both were alike wicked sinners, and needed forgiveness. Yet one died in his sins, as he had lived, hardened, impenitent and unbelieving. The other repented, believed, cried to Jesus for mercy, and was saved.
A fact like this should teach us humility. We cannot account for it. We can only say, " Even so Father, for so it seemeth good in thy sight." (Matt. xi. 26.) How it is that under precisely the same circumstances one man is converted and another remains dead in sins, — why the very same sermon is heard by one man with perfect indifference and sends another home to pray and seek Christ, — why the qpme Gospel is hid to one and revealed to another, all these are questions which we cannot possibly answer. We only know that it is so, and that it is useless to deny it.
Our own duty is clear and plain. We are to make a diligent use of all the means which God has appointed for the good of souls. There is no necessity that any one should be lost. There is no such thing as decreed damn- ation in the Bible. The offers of the Gospel are wide,