I heard a man say once, “Sir, if I believed that doctrine I should live in sin.” My reply to him was this, “I dare say you would! I dare say you would!” “And why,” said he, “should I more than you?” Simply because you are a man, and I trust I am a new man in Christ Jesus. To man that is renewed by grace, there is no doctrine that could make him love sin. If a man by nature be as a swine that wallows in the mire, turn him into a sheep, and there is no doctrine you can teach that can make him go and wallow in the mire again. His nature is changed. There is a raven transformed into a dove. I will give the dove to you, and you may teach it whatever you like, but that dove will not eat carrion any more. It cannot endure it: its nature is entirely changed. Here is a lion roaring for its prey. I will change it into a lamb; and I defy you to make that lamb, by any doctrine, go and redden its lips with blood. It cannot do it-its nature is changed. A friend on board the steamboat, when we were coming across from Ireland, asked one of the sailors, “Would you like a drunken sailor’s song?” “No,” said he, “I do not like such things.” “Would you like a dance?” “No,” said he, “I have a religion that allows me to swear and be drunk as often as ever I please, and that is never: for I hate all such things with perfect hatred.”
Christian men keep from sin because their nature cannot bear it, not because of threats of damnation; we have no fear, except the fear of offending our loving Father. But we do not want to sin-our thirst is for holiness and not for vice. But if you have a kind of religion that always keeps you in restraint, so that you say, “I should like to go to the theatre tonight if I dare,”-if that is what you say, depend upon it, your religion is not of much value. You must have a religion that makes you hate the thing you once loved, and love that which you once hated-a religion that draws you out of your old life and puts you into a new life. Now, if a man has a new nature, what doctrine of Election can make that new nature act contrary to its instincts! Teach the man what you will, that man will not turn again to vanity. The Election of God gives a new nature: so, even if the doctrine were dangerous, the new nature would keep it in check.
But once more, bring me hither the man-man shall I call him?-bring me the beast or devil that would say, “God has set his love upon me from before all worlds; my name is on Jesus’ heart; he bought me with his blood; my sins are all forgiven; I shall see God’s face with joy and acceptance; therefore, I hate God, therefore I live in sin.” Bring me up the monster, I say; and when you have brought up such-an-one, even then I will not admit that there is reason in that vile lie, that damnable calumny, which you have cast upon this doctrine, that it makes men live in licentiousness. There is no truth that can so nerve a man to piety as the fact that he was chosen of God ere time begun. Loved by thee with an unlimited love that never moves, and that endures to the end-O my God! I desire to spend myself in thy service.
Love, so amazing, so divine,
Demands my life, my soul, my all,
and gratitude to God; for this rich mercy constrains us, compels us to walk in the fear of God, and to love and serve him all our lives.
Now, two lessons, and then I will send you away.
Election is to be clearly and boldly taught.
The first lesson is this: Christian men and women, chosen of God and ordained unto salvation, recollect that this is a doctrine everywhere spoken against. Do not hide it, do not conceal it, for remember Christ has said, “He that is ashamed of my words, of him will I be ashamed.” But take care that you do not dishonour it. Be ye holy, even as he is holy. He has called you; stand by your calling, give diligence to make your calling and election sure. Put on as the elect of God, bowels of compassion, holiness and love; and let the world see that God’s chosen ones are made by grace, the choicest of men, who live nearer to Christ, and are more like Christ, than any other people upon the face of the earth. And let me add to you, if the world sneers at you, you can look your enemy in the face and never tremble. For this is a degree of nobility, a patent of divine dignity which you never need blush for, but which will keep you from ever being a coward, or bowing your knee before pomp and station, when they are associated with vice. This doctrine has never been liked, because it is a hammer against tyrants. Men have chosen their own elect ones, their kings, dukes, and earls, and God’s election interferes with them. There are some that will not bow the knee to Baal, who hold themselves to be God’s true aristocracy, who will not resign their consciences to the dictation of another. Men rail, and rave, and rage because this doctrine makes a good man strong in his loins, and will not let him bend his knee, or turn back and be a coward. Those Ironsides were made mighty because they held themselves to be no mean men. They bowed before God, but before men they could not and would not bow. Stand fast, therefore, in this your liberty, and be not moved from the hope of your calling.
The doctrine of election is no excuse for unbelief.
One other word of exhortation; it is the second lesson. There are some of you who are making an excuse out of the doctrine of Election, an excuse, an apology for your own unbelieving and wicked hearts. Now, remember the doctrine of Election exercises no constraint whatever upon you. If you are wicked you are so because you will be so. If you reject the Saviour you do so because you will do so. The doctrine does not make you reject him. You may make it an excuse, but it is an idle one; it is a cobweb garment that will be rent away at the last day. I beseech you lay it aside, and remember that the truth with which you have to do is this, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.” If you believe, you are saved. If you trust Christ, be you who you may, or what you may, the wide world over, you are a saved man. Do not say, “I will not believe because I do not know whether I am elected.” You cannot know that until you have believed. Your business is with believing. “Whosoever”-there is no limitation in it-”Whosoever believeth in Christ shall be saved.” You, as well as any man. If you trust Christ, your sins shall be forgiven, your iniquities blotted out. O may the Holy Spirit breathe the new life into you. Bowing the knee, I beseech you, kiss the Son lest he be angry. Receive his mercy now, steel not your hearts against the gracious influence of his love; but yield to him, and you shall then find that you yielded because he made you yield; that you came to him because he drew you; and that he drew you because he had loved you with an everlasting love.
May God command his blessing for Jesus’ sake. Amen.
“This article originally appeared here at Bible Bulletin Board.”
