God's Grace and Man's Responsibility.

An Open Letter.
THERE is a very lovely passage at the close of the Book of Revelation to which you have not referred: “WHOSOEVER WILL, let him take the water of life freely.” (Rev. 22:1717And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. (Revelation 22:17).)
This is but one of a large number of passages which give us the other side of the subject. Your letter is entirely one-sided. The writer of the article to which you call our attention rejects utterly the notion of man’s free will. He believes that man is perfectly powerless; and not only so, but in a state of positive enmity against God, so that, if left to himself, he never would come to Christ. All who come to the “great supper” are compelled to come, else they never would be there. (Luke 14:2323And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. (Luke 14:23).)
Moreover he most fully believes in the sovereignty of God; and that the names of all who are saved were written in the Lamb’s book of life before the foundation of the world. (Rev. 13:88And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. (Revelation 13:8).)
But then, on the other side (for we must take both sides), let us ponder such words as these: “I exhort therefore, that first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for ALL MEN; for kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; WHO WILL HAVE ALL MEN TO BE SAVED, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus; who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.” (1 Tim. 2:1-61I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; 2For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. 3For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; 4Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. 5For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; 6Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. (1 Timothy 2:1‑6).)
And again: “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is long-suffering to usward, NOT WILLING THAT ANY SHOULD PERISH, BUT THAT ALL SHOULD COME TO REPENTANCE.” (2 Peter 3:22That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour: (2 Peter 3:2).)
Now, if it be said that, in the above scriptures, the words “any” and “all” refer to “the elect” we reply that this is an unwarrantable liberty to take with the word of God. If the inspired writer had meant “any of the elect,” or “all of the elect” he would most assuredly have said so. But he says nothing of the kind. It is not according to the desire of the heart of God that any should perish.
But man is a responsible being; although your letter is totally silent on this very important question. In short you seem to lose sight altogether of two weighty truths: First, the largeness of the heart of God; the fullness and freeness of His grace; the wide aspect of His salvation; that His righteousness is unto all; that the gospel is to be preached to every creature; that God “commandeth ALL MEN EVERYWHERE TO REPENT.” (Mark 16:1515And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. (Mark 16:15); Acts 17:3030And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: (Acts 17:30); Rom. 3:2222Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: (Romans 3:22).)
Secondly, man’s responsibility. Is the sinner responsible, or is he not? If he is not responsible, then what mean such words as these: “Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you; and to you who are troubled, rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels; in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ; who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of His power?”
Are men responsible to believe the gospel? Yes, verily, inasmuch as they “shall be punished with everlasting destruction” for rejecting it. “Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?” (Gen. 18:2525That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right? (Genesis 18:25).) People find difficulty in reconciling man’s powerlessness with his responsibility. It is none of our business to reconcile things that are revealed in Holy Scripture. It is ours TO BELIEVE. They ARE reconciled, inasmuch as they are distinctly taught in the word of God.
It is remarkable that we do not see the same difficulty in reference to the things of this life. Suppose a man owes you a thousand pounds; but he has by unprincipled extravagance rendered himself wholly unable to pay you. He is quite powerless. Is he responsible? And are you not perfectly justified, according to worldly principles, in taking legal proceedings against him?
C. H. M.