a child by offering him nuts. — But there is this wide differ- ence, that both the sheep and the child have a natural taste and inclination for the thing offered. Man, on the contrary, has none at all. God's first act is to give man a will to come to Christ. As the 10th Article of the Church of England says, we need '' the grace of Christ preventing us, that we may have a good will, and working with us when we have that good will."
The theory that all members of the Church and all baptized people are " drawn by God," appears to me a most baseless theory, and practically a most mischievous one. It would re- duce the " drawing" to nothing, and make it a thing which the majority of Christians resist. I beheve the drawing is a thing that belongs to none but God's elect, and is a part of the pro- cedure by which their salvation is effected. They are chosen in Christ from all eternity, and then drawn to Christ in time.
There are several very important principles of theology con- nected with this remarkable sentence, which it may be useful to put down together, before we leave the passage.
(a.) We must never suppose that the doctrine of this verse takes away man's responsibility and accountableness to God for his soul. On the contrary, the Bible always distinctly declares that if any man is lost, it is his own fault. He " loses his own soul." (Mark viii. 36.) If we cannot reconcile God's sovereignty and man's responsibility now, we need not doubt that it will be all plain at the last day.
(b.) We must not allow the doctrine of this verse to make us limit or narrow the offer of salvation to sinners. On the contrary, we must hold firmly that pardon and peace are to be offered freely through Christ to every man and woman without exception. We never know who they are that God will draw, and have nothing to do with it. Our duty is to invite all, and leave it to God to choose the vessels of mercy.
(c.) We must not suppose that we, or anybody else, are drawn, unless we come to Christ by faith. Tliis is the grand mark and evidence of any one being the subject of the Father's drawing work. If " drawn," he comes to Christ, believes, and loves. Where there is no faith and love, there may be talk, self- conceit, and high profession. But there is no " drawing" of the Father.
(d.) We must always remember that God ordinarily works by means, and specially by such means as He himself has appointed. iSTo doubt He acts as a Sovereign in drawing souls to Christ. We cannot pretend to explain why some aie diawn and others are not drawn. Nevertheless, we must carefully maintain the great principle that God ordinarily draws through