"A GENTLEMAN was traveling in an omnibus, carrying in his hand a small basket of choice fruit, when a lady entering, and seeing the fruit, freely expressed her admiration of its beauty and excellence, adding how glad she would have been to have bought some like it, that she might have had the pleasure of presenting it to friends whom she was going to visit.
“The gentleman at once very courteously offered his own for her acceptance. Much, however, as she would have liked to have the fruit, she would not accept it as a gift from a stranger, though she would gladly take it, she said, if he would permit her to pay for it. That, however, he declined, though still expressing his willingness to give it to her.
“During some further conversation, the lady continued to show a desire to have the fruit, if by purchase. At last, the gentleman brought the matter to a close thus: —’ Well, ma'am,' said he, I must tell you that you must either have it as a gift, or not at all.'
"She at length agreed to take it as he offered it, cheerfully acknowledging his kindness.
“Just like man! By reason of his fancied self-righteousness and ability to do something for or towards his own salvation, he is unwilling to accept of eternal life from God as a gift. The salvation of God must be taken as a gift; and if you will not receive it as the gift of God, you will not have it at all, but must perish in your sins.”