not an
equal chance for salvation. If a man (say they) has no better show for
bringing forth the fruits of righteousness in a good life than the
rocky or thorny ground has for bringing forth a crop of wheat or
barley, he can have no show for salvation at all." This argument
appears plausible at a first view. And in the estimation of those who
look only upon the surface of things it is convincing. The first point
of error with those who reason in this way is to be found in their
belief that God has made this difference among men. But the entire
history of man, as given in the Bible, shows that men bring upon
themselves these varied degrees of opposition to what is pure and
good. "God made men upright, but they have sought out many
inventions," says the prophet. Of course he means inventions of evil
things. An apostle says: "Evil men and seducers shall wax worse and
worse, deceiving and being deceived." The natural tendency of man with
everything of earth is downward. The loveliest garden, by being
neglected, will get full of weeds. The most highly improved breeds of
domestic animals tend toward degeneracy and deterioration as to
quality, unless carefully guarded. Man is no exception to the rule. It
is only by watchful care that one generation of people becomes wiser
and better than the generation that preceded it. Our Lord would oft
repeat such expressions as these: "What I say unto one, I say unto
all, Watch." "Let your loins be girded and your lamps burning." "He
that hath ears to hear, let him hear." "Watch and pray, lest ye enter
into temptation."

There is no heart so stubborn hard but that the softening power of
Divine love can mellow it; and there is no soul so full of the thorns
and briers of evil passions and bad habits, but that the sanctifying
power of the truth can cleanse it. Jesus came not to call the
righteous, but sinners to repentance. They that be whole need not the
physician, but they that are sick. God is able to do for all who look
to him for help, exceeding abundantly above all we can ask or think;
and in Christ he is able to save to the uttermost all who come unto
God by him. No case of leprosy was ever beyond the power of the Lord
to cleanse. No blindness was ever too dark for him to remove. No palsy
was ever too dead for him to quicken into healthy life. No fever was
ever too burning for him to cool. No demoniac was ever so insane or
epileptic, under the power and in the possession of even a leg