Grace

    People talk of grace as if it were something they could use, and not an influence having a power over them. Grace is something, not which I improve, but which improves me, employs me, works on me. Let people talk as they will about universal grace. It is all nonsense; there is no such thing, nor can there be. They may talk correctly of universal blessing, because we see that the natural gifts of God are scattered everywhere, more or less; and men may receive them or reject them.

    It is not so, however, with grace. Men cannot take the grace of God and employ it in turning themselves from darkness to light. The light does not come to the darkness and say, “Use me;” but the light comes and drives the darkness away. Life does not come to the dead man and say, “Use me to be restored to life.” The spiritual influence does not come to the dry bones and say, “Use this power to clothe yourselves with flesh;” but it clothes them with flesh, and the work is done.