Christian Theology - Media Sabda Org

It is only in the use of lawful means that we have any reason to expect
God's blessing and help. One of the ancients has remarked, "Though God
has made man without himself, he will not save him without himself;"
and therefore man's own concurrence of will, and co-operation of power
with God, are essentially necessary to his preservation and salvation. This
co-operation is the grand condition, sine qua non, of which God will help
or save. But is not this endeavouring to merit salvation by our own
works? No: for this is impossible, unless we could prove that all the
mental and corporeal powers which we possess come from and of
ourselves, and that we hold them independently of the power and
beneficence of our Creator; and that every act of these was of infinite
value, to make it an equivalent for the heaven we wished to purchase.
Putting forth the hand to receive the alms of a benevolent man, can never
be considered a purchase price for the bounty bestowed. For ever shall
that word stand true in all its parts, "Christ is the Author of eternal
salvation to all them that obey him."
It is not for want of holy resolutions and heavenly influences that men
are not saved, but through their own unsteadiness; they do not persevere,
they forget the necessity of continuing in prayer, and thus the Holy Spirit
is grieved, departs from them, and leaves them to their own darkness and
hardness of heart. When we consider the heavenly influences which many
receive who draw back to perdition, and the good fruits which, for a time,
they bore, it is blasphemy to say, They had no genuine, or saving grace.
They had it, they showed it, they trifled with it, and sinned against it; and
therefore are lost.
What a comfortable thought it is to the followers of Christ, that neither
men nor demons can act against them but by the permission of their
heavenly Father, and that he will not suffer any of those who trust in him
to be tried above what they are able to bear, and will make the trial end
in their greater salvation, and in his glory!
Slothfulness is natural to man; it requires much training to induce him
to labour for his daily bread: if God should miraculously send it, he will