MEDITATION LIX.
MEDITATION LIX.
THE WORD OF GOD IRRESISTIBLE.
Nov. 3, 1758.
O how glorious and irresistible is the word of grace, when it comes accompanied with divine power—the word which turns a sinner from his wickedness to God! Fire and sword cannot convert; war and shipwreck cannot reclaim; dangers and deliverance cannot reform; mercies and judgments cannot change the man. But one verse in the holy scriptures, a sentence or paragraph in a pious treatise, or an expression in a sermon—backed with the divine blessing, and sent home by the Spirit of God—can prick to the very heart, overpower the whole soul, and open his eyes towards God, himself, and eternity!
Towards God, to see his holiness and indignation against sin! Towards himself, to see his desperate and deplorable state in such a gulf of impurity and raging enmity against God! Towards eternity, to see his vast concerns and interests there—and that they are of another kind than he once dreamed of. Once he thought of nothing but social gatherings, balls, and the theater; of revelings and parties of pleasure; of knowing and being known; of money, advancements, and commissions from his employer; of grand appearance, expensive houses, splendid clothes, and high-sounding titles.
But now he sees that—judgment awaits all his actions—eternity treads on the heels of time—and that there is a world to come! These things cast out the vain and trifling phantoms that engrossed all his attention before—and give him just and proper ideas of everything around. And this great and wonderful change, which makes him account everything loss, rubbish and dross—in comparison of the excellency of the knowledge of Christ and the unseen eternal world—is effected by a very word—that the excellency of the power may be seen to be of God; while others hear thousands of such words, and continue in impenitence.
Though a man were thrown into hell, and saw and suffered all the torments of the damned, for years and ages—and was then brought up again to the land of the living, to the place of hope—yet all would be to no avail. For without the blessing of the Most High on the means of grace, he would not accept of salvation, nor receive the Savior. This is evident in those who have a foretaste of the terrors of hell, by the horrors of an awakened conscience, which, instead of bringing them nearer to God—drives them farther from him, and plunges them into the tremendous deeps of despair.
Though the words of peace may be more glorious from mount Zion to those who have heard the threatenings of mount Sinai, and though the thunderings of the law may precede to prepare his way; yet still God comes to a soul in the still small voice of the gospel. Then happy are those who know the joyful sound, for faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
By what experience shall they support their plea, who are for free will, and a kind of self-agency, in the work of conversion, when we see thousands and ten thousands perish, although it is natural for all men to wish to be happy! The Arminian will say, because they will not, therefore they are not happy. But the scripture says, "No man can come to me except the Father, who has sent me, draws him." Now, whether I am to believe the Arminian or God—let all the world judge.
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