“Ah! there’s the difficulty,” said Mr. Hillston. “The good Lord has not informed us on what principle He makes the choice. If we knew that, there would be an end of all discussion. All we know about it is, that it is ‘according to the good pleasure of His will.’ Is not that a sufficient reason?”
“Somehow, this doctrine of predestination appears to me to be unjust,” said Ernest, looking confused. “You say that God passes by some men without giving them an opportunity to be saved.”
“I did not say that, Ernest.”
“Well, it amounts to that.”
“On the contrary, they do have an opportunity to be saved. The invitations of the gospel are extended to all alike, and all could be saved, if they would. No man ever was lost simply on account of the ‘eternal decrees.’”
“Why, how can they be saved,” asked Ernest, “if it is predestinated that they shall not accept the invitations offered to them?”
“But, my young friend, the Bible does not say that they shall not accept, but that they will not. ‘Ye will not come unto me that ye might have life,’ said our Lord. The greatest obstacle in the way of human salvation is found in the perversity of the will. If men only willed to be saved, they could be. How, then, is there injustice in predestination?”
“Well,” said Ernest, “if some men are foreordained to eternal death, I should like to know what is the use of your preaching to them?”
“When you get to be a minister, if you discard predestination and election, I want to ask you a question or two,” said Mr. Hillston. “Assuming that you are a preacher, I will ask you these questions now.”
“Very well; proceed.”