resistibly influenced only a passive
instrument, and no more to blame than the gunpowder. Now, if the sinner
is passive he is no more to blame or praise than the passive instruments
employed by the murderer. And if he is not passive, but active, then the
thing is begun and done by himself _as the real agent_. Action implies
motion, and where there is no power to begin motion there can not be
action, _but rest_. If the sinner has power to begin that action called
conversion, then he is a moral agent in his conversion, provided that he
begins it with a knowledge of the right and the wrong in their relations
to the subject, for action without knowledge of duty is not conversion
to the service of God. In this case the moral element is wanting, the
man acts blindly from impulse or passion; which is no more than saying
that men must know what to _convert from_, and what to _convert to_,
before they can act intelligently as rational moral agents. As such, the
thing of first importance is to teach men the will of God upon the
subject of conversion, that they may know what to do. Anciently men were
told what to do. And the gospel of Christ tells men the same story yet.
If the sinner is the agent in his conversion then he should give himself
no rest until he learns his duty and does it. But if he is not, then he
might just as well rest contented, for the passive stone that has no
power to change its place _must rest_. To say that the sinner has the
power to change is giving up the question. And when this is once given
up all good people will go to work upon sinners to teach them their
duty, and persuade them to turn, convert, to God. And the Lord will no
longer be regarded by sensible skeptics as a very changeable being.

The ancient Christians did not wrestle with God in the work of saving
sinners. He was always willing that men should be saved, and is yet
willing. If we were to wrestle with him in solemn prayer all our days he
would not be more willing than he is at this moment.

Why is it that _all men_ are not _saved_? Ans.--The Lord commands men to
convert, turn and live. Turn from what? Ans.--From the will of the flesh
and from the will of man. To what? Ans.--To the gospel of Christ. And
they refuse to do it. To say the sinner has not the power is to relieve
him, forever, of all responsibility for his continuance in an
unconverted state, and throw it, forever, upon God. To say the sinner
has not the power, and in the next b