ove
above everything else, can they of themselves change their wills? I
have known several instances in which a young lady set her affections
upon a man who was not her equal in any respect, and very far below
her in general character. I have known the mother of such a lady to
bend over her daughter, and with tearful eyes entreat her to withdraw
her affections from that unworthy object and give them to another who,
in breathless suspense, and with a soul and character and surroundings
worthy of her, was but waiting to receive them. And did that young
lady change? Did she withdraw her love from the unworthy object and
give it to the other? She did not. Her answer every time was: "Mother,
I _cannot_." Just in this sense, relatively, the sinner is free. He is
free to love most what he likes best, and that is himself and the
world. In this state he would forever remain but for "the grace of God
which bringeth salvation." Right here comes in the necessity for the
change of heart, the new creation and regeneration, as Paul calls it;
the being born again, as the Lord and Peter call it, upon which
everything depends, and without which no man can enter the kingdom of
heaven. This is connected with the drawing of the Father, "for man
looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh upon the
heart."

When I was young I could not understand what it is to come to Jesus,
to be with him, to follow him. I thought I could readily see how
people could come to him to be healed, and to be cured of their
diseases, and to be fed by his liberal hand, when he was visibly on
earth in the flesh. But he is no longer here in that form. I was in
darkness. My eyes could behold no form which I could approach unto; no
visible steps for me to follow; hear no audible voice of comfort to
encourage, of instruction to enlighten, and of commands to obey.
Where, thought I, is he to be found, and how are we to know when we
have found him? These and many other similar thoughts occupied my
mind, until I wondered much why he did not stay when he was here. I
suppose that many young but thoughtful minds have wandered, and others
at the present time are now wandering in this same wilderness of doubt
and uncertainty. Let me say to you, my dear young friend, that Jesus
is here as truly now as he was when visible to natural eyes. As God,
he is here in his glorified state. To every one who desires him he
says in words of warmest love, "Lo, I am with you alway."