kingly bold utterances on this subject, and
how I reconcile them with my belief in the absolute freedom of the
human will.

In the first place, I unhesitatingly profess my belief in the absolute
freedom of man's will. How else could man comply with the injunction
given in the text: "Walk in love?" If he has no will of his own, why
give him a command? This freedom of man's will is a logical necessity.
Reason demands it. Now, let us look at this a little. If man is not
free to choose between good and evil; between right and wrong; between
truth and falsity; wherein lies the reasonableness of instructing him?
of exhorting him to do what is right, and to shun what is wrong? of
commanding him to do good, with promises of reward for his obedience,
and threatenings of judgment and fiery indignation as the sure
penalties of his disobedience and sin?

Some admit the freedom of man's will to do evil, but not to do good.
But do you not see that if this be true man's will is only half
free--free to act in one direction, but not in another? On this
assumption, where is the reasonableness of giving him admonitions,
invitations and entreaties to do good, when he has not the power
within him to comply?

You may answer by quoting the Lord's words: "_Without me ye can do
nothing_." I fully believe these words of our Lord. But if you apply
them specifically to the will, they prove that men can do neither good
nor evil without the Lord. This you may not admit; but I believe it is
just what our Lord meant. All life is from him as God. All beings, the
evil as well as the good, "live and move in him." I believe that our
Lord is, every hour and every moment of every man's life, seeking to
turn the heart, the WILL of the man from evil to good, from darkness
to light, and from the power of Satan to himself. "He causeth his sun
to rise on the evil and the good; and sendeth his rain on the just and
on the unjust."

The light and heat of the sun, as well as the falling of the rain, are
beautiful emblems of the life-giving love of our heavenly Father. He
freely imparts the power to every one who hears the words of gospel
grace, to love and obey him if he will; to turn from his sins, and
walk in newness of life. It is the goodness of God that leads men to
repentance; and repentance is neither more nor less, and nothing else
than a change of one's love or _will_ from evil to good; from the
love of self and the world to God supremely.

Thus brie