for us, — of Christ's death being the corner-stone of our hope, — of Christ's poverty being our riches, — and you will, find they hate these things with a deadly hatred. Tiuly the offence of the cross is not yet ceased !
We learn, for another thing, from this passage, man's natural helplessness and inability to repent or believe. We find our Lord saying, — " No man can come unto me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him." Until the Father draws the heart of man by His grace, man will not believe.
The solemn truth contained in these words is one that needs careful weighing. It is vain to deny that without the grace of God no one ever can become a true Chris- tian. We are spiritually dead, and have no power to give ourselves life. We need a new principle put in us from above. Facts prove it. Preachers see it. The Tenth Ai-ticle of our own Church expressly declares it : *'The condition of man after the fall of Adam is such that he cannot turn and prepare himself, by his own natural strength and good works, to faith and calling upon Grod." This witness is true.
But after all, of what does this inability of man con- sist? In what part of our inward nature does this impotence reside ? Here is a point on which many mis- takes arise. For ever let us remember that the will of man is the part of him which is in fault. His inability is not physical, but moral. It would not be true to say that a man has a real wish and desire to come to Christ, but no pfewcr to come. It would be far more true to say that a man has no power to come because he has no desire or wisli. — It is not true that he would come if he could. It is true that he could come if he would. — The corrupt will, — the seci-ct disinclination, — the want of heart, are the real causes of unbelief. It is here the mischief lies. The power that we want is a new will. It is pre*
JOHN, CHAP. yi. 381
cisely at this point that we need the " drawing " of the Father.
These things, no d( ubt, are deej^ and mysterious. By truths like these God proves the faith and patience of His people. Can they believe Him? Can they wait for a fuller explanation at the last day ? What they see not now they shall see hereafter. One thing at any rate is abundantly clear, and that is man's responsibility for his ow^n soul. His inability to come to Christ does not make an end of his accountableness. Both things are equally true. If lost at last, it wUl prove to have been his own fault. His blood wdll be on his own head. Christ w^ould have saved him, but he would not be saved. He would not come to Christ, that he might have life.
We learn, lastly, in this passage, that the salvation of a believer is a present thing. Our Lord Jesus Christ says, • — " Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that believeth on me hath everlasting life." Life, we should observe, is a present possession. It is not said that he shall have it at last, in the judgment day. It is now, even now, in this world, his property. He hath it the very day that he believes.
The subject is one which it much concerns our peace to understand, and one about which errors abound. How many seem to think that forgiveness and acceptance with God are things which we cannot attain in this life, — that they are things which are to be earned by a long course of repentance and faith and holiness, — things which we may receive at the bar of God at last, but must never pretend to touch while we are in this world I It is a com- plete mistake to think so. The very moment a sinner believes on Christ he is justified and accepted. There is no condemnation for him. He has peace with God, and that immediately and without delay. His name is in the book of life, however little he may be aware of it. He