Sinners do not perish because they cannot come to Christ, but because they WILL NOT COME. Christ said, "Ye will not come to me, that you might have life" (John 5:40). Man's ruin lies in his own perverse will. Help enough is provided were he willing; but he will not bow to Christ as his only Prophet, Priest, and King; his heart will not submit to be wholly saved by grace through faith. Men perish because they will not come to Christ Jesus; yet, if they do have a will to come to Christ, it is God who works the will in them! Grace – sovereign grace, electing grace – both gives the will and keeps it steady. "Salvation is of the Lord." Damnation is of man! Man in his natural state is too proud to be saved FOR NOTHING. He wills not to accept salvation as the gift of God, but chooses to work it out and cry, "Half-mine." He needs no drawing of the Holy Spirit; he is wise enough to draw himself. He needs no shepherd to fetch him to the fold; he is strong enough to fetch himself. Nor can he bear to hear the Lord say, "I have chosen you;" for he is old enough and smart enough to choose for himself. He can climb into the fold by his own nimblelegs and keep himself there by his own ready wit – no thanks to the shepherd. He looks and talks so bravely that one is almost grieved to hear the shepherd say, "A CLIMBER IS A THIEF," and by that word condemn him to the gallows. It is almost as difficult to convince men of their spiritual decays as it is to recover them from these decays. You cannot help many people, for there are not many who are willing to be helped. They are trying to be "personal saviours." No one can truly bear salvation by grace until HE CANNOT BEAR HIMSELF.
*