his. But in its essential parts conversion is the same in all. Ours therefore must resemble his,
1. In its origin, the electing love of God —
[God " separated him from his mother's womb " to the apostolic office, just as he had done the prophet Jeremiah to the prophetic office0. It was evidently not for his righteous- ness that he was thus chosen to know Christ for himself, and to preach him to others : for, to the very instant of his conver- sion, he was a blasphemer, and injurious, and a persecutor. His election can be traced to nothing but the sovereign will of God. And to this must our conversion also be traced, if ever we have been converted at all. " We have not chosen Christ, but Christ us :" yea, " we were chosen of God in Christ before the foundation of the world," and " predestinated to the adoption of children " into his family. In this very epistle St. Paul most studiously marks this. He speaks of the Gala- tians as having known God : but, fearing, as it were, lest they should suppose that the work had begun on their part, he recalls his word, and says, " after that ye have known God, or rather are known of GodA." Let us bear in mind therefore, that, if we are converted, it is "not because we loved God, but because he loved use :" " he loved us with an everlasting love ; and therefore with loving-kindness hath he drawn usf."]
2. In its means, the effectual grace of God —
[God " called him by his grace ;" and without the effec- tual working of his grace the Apostle would never have been called at all. Nor shall we ever attain to a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus in any other way. Of ourselves " we can do nothing," no, " not so much as think a good thought :" it is "God alone who can give us either to will or to do" any thing that is goodg. " If we are brought into a state of grace," it is " he who hath made us willing in the day of his power." " We are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works1':" the new creation is his work as much as the old: whatever be the means, or whoever be the instrument " to plant or water, it is he alone that gives the increase1." Every child of man must say with the Apostle, " By the grace of God I am what I amk :" " whoever he be that is born again, he is born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God1."]
c Jer. i. 5. d Gal. iv. 9. See also Phil. iii. 12.
e 1 John iv. 10. f Jer. xxxi. 3. e Phil. ii. 13.
11 Eph. ii. 10. * 1 Cor. iii. G. k 1 Cor. xv. 10.
1 John i. 13.