willing in the day of God's power6." He is drawn indeed, but it is " with the cords of a man, and with the bands of love." On the other hand, no man is sentenced to misery, who has not first chosen the ways of sin. He perishes, not because God has " ordained him to wrath*," but because " he will not come to Christ that he may have lifeu." Christ would gladly have " gathered him, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, but he would not."
It may be said perhaps, that, whilst we thus attempt to vin- dicate the justice of God, we countenance the workings of pride in man. But we have no fear that any one who has been drawn by the Spirit of God, will ever ascribe his conversion to the operations of his own natural will : he will readily own, that " it is God, who of his own good pleasure has given him both to will and to dox;" and that it is " by the grace of God he is what he is." On the other hand, all excuse is cut off from the ungodly: they must ever take the whole blame of their condemnation to themselves, and never presume to cast the least atom of it upon God.
Make ye then your choice, beloved Brethren: we this day set before you life and death, a blessing and a curse : choose ye therefore life, that your souls may live. God has declared that " he willeth not the death of any sinner: therefore turn yourselves, and live yey." In his sacred name I promise to the righteous, that " it shall be well with him; but I denounce a woe unto the wicked, for it shall be ill with him, and the reward of his hands shall be given to him z."]
sPs. ex. 3. MThess. v. 9. u John v. 40. x Phil. ii. 13. y Ezek. xviii. 32. and xxxiii. 11. z Isai. iii. 10, 11.
ccv.